Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) have joined the investigation into the Air India Phuket-to-Delhi flight incident, in which 17 passengers were injured after the A320neo aircraft abruptly dropped 300 feet while cruising at 36,000 feet after encountering severe air turbulence. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has classified the event as a serious incident, according to sources.

International Agencies Step In

Airbus confirmed its involvement in a formal statement: 'In accordance with ICAO Annex 13, 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.'

France's BEA is also participating, as permitted under ICAO's Annex 13, which allows the country where an aircraft is designed or manufactured to appoint representatives to an investigation. As the maker of the A320neo, Airbus can additionally provide technical assistance to help investigators understand aircraft systems and analyse flight data.

Flight Recorders Secured, Crew Under Scrutiny

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's sudden altitude variation and the actions of the flight crew. Both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder have been secured and will be analysed to reconstruct the aircraft's response during the turbulence encounter and determine whether any onboard systems or warnings were activated.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has removed both pilots from flying duties pending the outcome of the investigation. Post-flight screening for psychoactive substances was conducted after the aircraft landed in Delhi. The initial screening test of the pilot-in-command returned a result described as 'not negative', and the sample has been sent for a confirmatory test, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Government Response and Next Steps

The government stated that further action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and the results of the confirmatory substance test. This comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of Indian carriers following a series of aviation safety concerns in recent months.

Notably, the classification of this event as a 'serious incident' — one step below an accident under ICAO definitions — means the investigation carries significant regulatory weight. Findings could prompt operational or procedural changes for the airline and potentially influence how Indian carriers manage turbulence protocols more broadly.

As the probe deepens, all eyes will be on the flight recorder data and the confirmatory test results, both of which are expected to shape the AAIB's final findings and any regulatory action that follows.