Air India turbulence incident: French investigative agency BEA, Airbus teams to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday

According to sources mentioned by PTI, these teams are expected to reach the national capital on Tuesday (Photo: ANI)

France’s air accident investigation agency BEA and Airbus are reportedly set to send their own teams to support the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s inquiry into last week’s mid-air turbulence incident on an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi, which injured at least 17 people.According to sources mentioned by PTI, these teams are expected to reach the national capital on Tuesday.On Monday, an Airbus spokesperson confirmed that a team of specialists from the company is being sent to help with the probe.The spokesperson stated, “In accordance with Annexure 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Airbus is providing technical assistance to the relevant investigating authorities. We are actively supporting the airline and will provide further information as it becomes available. A team of specialists is being dispatched to assist with the investigation.”AAIB has been investigating the incident as per Annexure 13 of the ICAO.The incident occurred on August 4, when flight AI2379, operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft with registration VT-EXO, suddenly dropped roughly 300 feet in altitude while cruising. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.On August 9, the civil aviation ministry said that some passengers and cabin crew members aboard sustained injuries during the incident. The flight was carrying 137 passengers, with three infants and 8 crew members.Separately, the ministry noted that the flight’s pilot-in-command underwent confirmatory testing after an initial screening for psychoactive substances came back inconclusive, requiring further analysis. The results of this confirmatory test are still pending.