--- title: "Airbus finds Air India A320 lost control for four seconds before 300-foot drop" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop" category: "Science & Tech" area: "India" published: "2026-08-14T11:26:20.073Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T10:52:03.223Z" updated: "2026-08-14T12:00:27.949Z" trust_score: 64 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-14T12:16:10.182762+00:00" --- # Airbus finds Air India A320 lost control for four seconds before 300-foot drop *Preliminary analysis shows all three hydraulic systems failed simultaneously, injuring 24 on 4 August flight* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 64 of 100, higher is better. Trust 64: multiple independent outlets, Airbus as source, specific figures, date/location, but no named person source. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Critic 85: explains relevance, separates facts, provides specific data, outlines next steps, clear narrative. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured, no sensationalism, headline matches content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - An Air India Airbus A320 lost about 300 feet of altitude on 4 August 2026 during a flight from Phuket to Delhi, injuring 24 people. - The aircraft briefly lost control of elevators and ailerons for approximately four seconds due to simultaneous hydraulic system failures. - Airbus’s preliminary analysis found no cause for the pressure loss, and Indian authorities are investigating the incident as serious. - The flight’s captain tested positive for marijuana, but no link to the incident has been established. An Air India Airbus A320 operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi lost approximately 300 feet of altitude on 4 August 2026. The sudden drop injured 24 people on board, including passengers and crew. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi after the incident. A preliminary technical assessment by Airbus, the aircraft’s manufacturer, found that all three hydraulic systems lost pressure within seconds of each other. The failure left the pilots unable to control the elevators and ailerons for about four seconds. During that time, the aircraft pitched upward before the systems recovered and control was restored. The cause of the hydraulic pressure loss remains unclear. Airbus has requested further inspections of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems, sensors, and wiring. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from Airbus and France’s Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA). ## Disagreement on duration of control loss Most reports state the aircraft lost control for approximately four seconds. India Today and ABP News, however, reported the loss of control lasted seven seconds, citing Airbus’s interim findings. The discrepancy has not been resolved by the sources. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned the captain’s positive marijuana test or Air India’s subsequent drug testing policy. The centre-rated report by Channel News Asia carried both details. The left-rated reports included them. franceinfo.fr’s full report was the only one to specify the names of the hydraulic systems (Green, Blue, Yellow) and to report Airbus’s request for structural inspections due to forces exceeding design limits. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 23% (5) - Centre: 9% (2) - Right: 68% (15) 8 of 30 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-14T12:16:10.182762+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-14T12:45:26.431Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The five left-rated digests led on the technical cause of the incident. OnManorama, One India, and the Indian Express reported the simultaneous failure of all three hydraulic systems. The Independent and franceinfo.fr highlighted the captain’s positive marijuana test, with franceinfo.fr quoting Airbus’s description of the pilots’ inability to respond during the control loss. - franceinfo.fr’s full report described the hydraulic systems as “vert, bleu et jaune” and noted Airbus’s request for structural inspections due to forces exceeding specified limits. It also reported Air India’s introduction of mandatory drug testing for pilots following the incident. ### Centre - Channel News Asia’s full report led on the brief loss of key flight controls, attributing the detail to an Airbus analysis reviewed by Reuters. It reported the pilots’ inability to use elevators and ailerons for about four seconds and noted Airbus’s request for tests on hydraulic systems and sensors. - The report mentioned the captain’s positive marijuana test but stated no link to the incident had been established. It also noted Air India’s initial description of the event as turbulence-related, which was later dropped. ### Right - The 13 right-rated digests focused on the technical failure and its immediate effects. India TV News, Latestly, and Moneycontrol reported the simultaneous failure of all three hydraulic systems. India Today and ABP News led on the duration of the control loss, reporting it as seven seconds. - Several outlets, including rediff.com and The Hindu Business Line, noted the pilots’ inability to control the aircraft during the incident. The Straits Times and Free Malaysia Today reported the number of injured but did not mention the captain’s marijuana test or Air India’s drug testing policy. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 12 - high: 9 - unknown: 8 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/empresas/noticia/2026/08/14/aeronave-da-air-india-deixa-feridos-aps-perda-temporria-de-controles-de-voo.ghtml) — Air India Aircraft Leaves Injured After Temporary Loss of Flight Controls - [rediff.com](https://rediff.com/news/report/hydraulic-failure-sudden-altitude-drop-airbus-analysis-on-air-india-phuket-flight/20260814.htm) — 'Hydraulic failure, sudden altitude drop': Airbus analysis on Air India Phuket flight - [franceinfo.fr](https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/occitanie/haute-garonne/toulouse/chute-brutale-d-un-a320-d-air-india-en-plein-vol-les-trois-circuits-hydrauliques-mis-en-cause-dans-une-note-d-airbus-3401296.html) — A Sudden Drop in Air India's A320 in Full Flight: the Three Hydraulic Circuits Involved in an Airbus Note - [Die Presse](https://diepresse.com/41173787/technische-probleme-ursache-fuer-vorfall-bei-air-india-mit-verletzten) — Technical Problems Cause of Incident in Air India with Injured Persons - [India TV News](https://indiatvnews.com/news/india/another-shocker-in-air-india-flight-fiasco-plane-lost-all-controls-for-4-seconds-as-it-dropped-300-feet-2026-08-14-1051358) — Another shocker in Air India flight fiasco, plane lost all controls for 4 seconds as it dropped 300 feet - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-airbus-analysis-shows) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls, Airbus analysis shows - [India TV Hindi Hindi](https://indiatv.in/paisa/business/how-did-phuket-delhi-air-india-flight-drop-300-feet-in-a-sudden-jolt-airbus-decoded-the-flight-data-recorder-2026-08-14-1237282) — How Did an Air India Plane Plunge 300 Feet in One Fell Swoop? Flight Data Recorder Reveals the Secret - India TV Hindi - [Channel News Asia](https://channelnewsasia.com/asia/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-key-controls-unresponsive-airbus-6319356) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls, Airbus analysis shows - [Paddle Your Own Kanoo](https://paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/08/14/flight-control-systems-on-air-india-jet-that-plunged-300-feet-briefly-went-dark) — Flight Control Systems On Air India Jet That Plunged 300 Feet Briefly Went Dark - [Daily Express](https://express.co.uk/news/world/2239059/major-update-issued-air-india) — Major update issued for Air India flight horror in chilling Airbus report - [awazthevoice.in](https://awazthevoice.in/business-news/air-india-flight-dropped-altitude-after-hydraulic-pressure-loss-65977.html) — Air India flight dropped altitude after hydraulic pressure loss - [OnManorama](https://onmanorama.com/news/india/2026/08/14/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-during-300-foot-drop.html) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls during 300-foot drop, Airbus analysis shows - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/air-india-a320-flight-drop-b3032945.html) — Air India flight at centre of pilot drug test probe ‘lost controls in 300-foot drop’ - [Emirates24|7](https://emirates247.com/news/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-during-300-foot-drop-airbus/4539) — Air India A320 Briefly Lost Key Flight Controls During 300-Foot Drop: Airbus - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/14/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-during-300-foot-drop) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls during 300-foot drop - [The Hindu Business Line](https://thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-during-300-foot-drop-airbus-analysis-shows/article71344168.ece) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls during 300-foot drop, Airbus analysis shows - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/india/news/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-lost-all-3-hydraulic-systems-before-300-foot-plunge-airbus-finds-7559378.html) — Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Lost All 3 Hydraulic Systems Before 300-Foot Plunge, Airbus Finds | 📰 LatestLY - [Unknown](https://aajtak.in/india/news/story/air-india-ai2379-phuket-to-delhi-flights-controls-failed-airbus-findings-ntc-mnrd-smsr-rpti-2621717-2026-08-14) — For Four Seconds, the Plane Was Out of Control, Revealing the Turbulent Phuket-Delhi Flight. - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/india/air-india-a320-briefly-lost-key-flight-controls-during-300-foot-drop-airbus-2026-08-14) — Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls during 300-foot drop ... - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/india/story/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-lost-control-for-4-seconds-full-nose-down-input-recorded-confirms-airbus-2970965-2026-08-14) — 7 seconds of horror in Air India Phuket-Delhi cockpit, Airbus's interim report reveals - [ABP News](https://news.abplive.com/news/india/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-lost-pilot-control-for-7-seconds-all-hydraulics-failed-airbus-investigation-report-1861993) — Air India Flight Lost Pilot Control For 7 Seconds, All 3 Hydraulics Failed: Airbus Report - [One India](https://oneindia.com/india/air-india-a320-lost-300-feet-after-all-3-hydraulic-systems-failed-mid-air-report-8175971.html) — Air India A320 Lost 300 Feet After All 3 Hydraulic Systems Failed Mid-Air: Report - [Mathrubhumi](https://mathrubhumi.com/news/india/air-india-flight-plunge-phuket-delhi-investigation-p2xg0a90) — 4 സെക്കൻഡ് നിയന്ത്രണം നഷ്ടമായി; ആകാശത്ത് പൈലറ്റിന് വഴങ്ങാതെ വിമാനം- ബ്ലാക്ക് ബോക്സ് വിവരങ്ങൾ പുറത്ത് - [TV9 Marathi](https://tv9marathi.com/videos/1733559-1733559.html) — Drug Test Mandatory for Air India Pilots: Strict Decision After Marijuana Consumption - [NEWS9 LIVE](https://news9live.com/india/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-lost-control-for-4-seconds-after-triple-hydraulic-failure-2999213) — Air India Phuket-Delhi flight lost control for 4 seconds after triple hydraulic failure - [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/news/india/air-india-s-phuket-delhi-flight-briefly-lost-hydraulic-control-across-all-three-systems-before-300-foot-drop-14005090.html) — Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight pitched up without pilot command before dropping 300 feet - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/phuket-plunge-airbus-sends-initial-report-to-ai-seeks-maintenance-details/articleshow/133226705.cms) — Phuket plunge: Airbus sends initial report to AI, seeks maintenance details - [Amar Ujala](https://amarujala.com/india-news/air-india-aircraft-dropped-676-feet-in-one-minute-phuket-delhi-flight-incident-probe-on-pilots-daily-drug-test-2026-08-14) — Air India: The Plane Descended 676 Feet in One Minute. What Are the Investigations Into the Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Case and the Revelations? - [The Free Press Journal](https://freepressjournal.in/india/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-scare-a320-logged-9-system-warnings-during-sudden-mid-air-altitude-drop) — Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Scare: A320 Logged 9 System Warnings During Sudden Mid-Air Altitude Drop - [Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/business/aviation/air-india-pilot-drug-test-phuket-delhi-incident-10831484) — After pilot tests positive for marijuana, Air India group orders one-time dope test on its 5,000 pilots ## Questions **What caused the Air India A320 to lose altitude?** The aircraft lost approximately 300 feet of altitude on 4 August 2026 after all three hydraulic systems failed simultaneously. The failure left pilots unable to control elevators and ailerons for about four seconds. The cause of the hydraulic pressure loss remains unclear. **How many people were injured in the incident?** Twenty-four people were injured during the sudden altitude loss on the Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi. The injured included passengers and crew members. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi after the incident. **Did the captain’s marijuana test affect the investigation?** The flight’s captain tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test after the incident. No link between the test result and the altitude loss has been established. Air India has since introduced mandatory drug testing for all pilots. **Which outlets reported the duration of the control loss differently?** Most reports stated the aircraft lost control for approximately four seconds. India Today and ABP News, however, reported the loss of control lasted seven seconds, citing Airbus’s interim findings. The discrepancy remains unresolved. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/tech/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Airbus finds Air India A320 lost control for four seconds before 300-foot drop", https://mediabias.news/tech/airbus-finds-air-india-a320-lost-control-for-four-seconds-before-300-foot-drop