Story perspectives

AI2379 Drop Injures 24 as Investigators Probe Cause

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Air India A320 flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi dropped about 300 feet on August 4, injuring 24.
Pressure loss disabled elevators and ailerons for seconds, making the plane pitch upward and negating the first officer’s nose-down input until recovery.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident.
The captain tested positive for marijuana, but investigators found no link to the altitude loss.
Air India began mandatory pilot substance testing Thursday.

History

Historical Context

After the 1972 Southern Airways hijacking forced the FAA to require passenger and baggage screening by January 5 1973, a series of security crises—including the 1999 Kandahar hijacking and the September 11, 2001 attacks—prompted the agency to expand safety regulations. That legacy frames Air India’s August 4 A320 probe, where a captain’s marijuana use was noted but not linked to the 300-foot altitude loss.

1 of 2

Story summary

Air India A320 flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi dropped about 300 feet on August 4, injuring 24.
Pressure loss disabled elevators and ailerons for seconds, making the plane pitch upward and negating the first officer’s nose-down input until recovery.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident.
The captain tested positive for marijuana, but investigators found no link to the altitude loss.
Air India began mandatory pilot substance testing Thursday.

1 / 2