Hydraulic failure linked to Air India Phuket‑Delhi incident

Investigators examining the Airbus A320neo that lost altitude on the Phuket‑Delhi sector found multiple hydraulic system failures. The malfunction briefly affected the aircraft’s elevators, ailerons and spoilers, which control pitch, roll and descent. Initial reports blamed turbulence, but data analysis later revealed the hydraulic issue as the primary cause. The incident, which saw the plane drop about 300 feet, intensified scrutiny on crew fitness, leading to the expanded drug‑testing program.