India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report on the Air India Airbus A320neo VT-EXO incident, confirming a brief loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems during cruise on the Phuket-to-Delhi flight. The aircraft was carrying 145 people when the event unfolded at about 36,000 feet on 4 August, with the autopilot disconnecting and the flight recovering safely after a short altitude upset.
The report indicates that the green hydraulic system failed first, followed four seconds later by the blue and yellow systems. A stall warning sounded briefly before the flight-control systems recovered and the aircraft continued to Delhi. Investigators have not identified the root cause and are still examining removed hydraulic components and fluid samples.
The AAIB treated the case as an accident after 24 people were injured. The preliminary findings also highlight the independent design of the A320neo’s hydraulic systems, with separate reservoirs and no fluid transfer between them. Airbus specialists and Air India are expected to face scrutiny over maintenance history and deferred items as the inquiry continues.