By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
India, August 11, 2026 - Airbus is sending specialists to India to assist investigators probing an Air India flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet (91 metres) in altitude during a flight from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi on August 4.
The Airbus A320 was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it experienced a sudden loss of altitude before stabilising and continuing safely to New Delhi. Seventeen people were injured and received medical attention after the aircraft landed.
India's civil aviation ministry has classified the incident as a "Serious Incident", with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) leading the investigation.
Airbus confirmed that it would provide technical assistance to the Indian authorities.
"A team of specialists is being dispatched to assist with the investigation," an Airbus spokesperson said. The manufacturer added that it was "actively supporting the airline" and would provide further information as it becomes available.
The investigation comes amid reports that the aircraft may have experienced technical problems before the sudden altitude loss. However, Air India, Airbus and Indian authorities have not officially confirmed that a technical fault caused the incident.
Investigators have secured the aircraft's flight recorders, including the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder, as they work to establish what happened during the flight.
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The investigation has also taken another turn after India's aviation ministry said the captain's initial psychoactive-substance screening produced a result requiring confirmatory testing. The final laboratory results have not yet been released, and both pilots have been removed from the flying roster while investigations continue.
Air India said it was "fully cooperating with the investigation" but declined to comment on findings or observations while the inquiry remains underway.
The incident comes as Air India continues efforts to rebuild its reputation following a series of challenges, including the June 2025 crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people on board and 19 people on the ground.
The latest incident is therefore likely to face close scrutiny as investigators determine whether the altitude loss was caused by a technical malfunction, operational factors, turbulence or another issue.
For now, authorities have not established a definitive cause, with Airbus' involvement expected to provide technical expertise as the investigation continues.