Phuket-Delhi A320 lost flight controls for 4 seconds, Airbus preliminary probe finds

Airbus has asked Air In- dia to carry out multiple tests and share the aircraft’s recent maintenance activi- ties as it continues its event assessmentNEW DELHI: “The elevators (control up and down movement of aircraft) and ailerons (controls left and right movement) surfaces were lost for around four seconds.” Airbus, in its initial assessment of the A320 flying from Phuket to Delhi on Aug 4, said the aircraft experienced a sudden loss in altitude that left 24 injured.“Based on analysis of the DFDR (digital flight data recorder),” Airbus found that within seven seconds between 9:32:44 am and 9:32:51 am, there was a loss of hydraulics systems — pressurised fluids which enable flight controls to move. At this point, the autopilot was disconnected and the aircraft’s nose went up (increase in