An Air India Phuket-Delhi flight logged 9 warnings within a minute during an altitude drop of around 360 feet, according to its post-flight fault records. Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, was flying at 36,160 feet on August 4 when the incident occurred, leaving 20 passengers and 4 crew members injured. The warnings included low pressure in the Green, Blue and Yellow hydraulic systems, low reservoir levels, an autopilot disconnect and an elevator flight-control fault. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the incident. The commander also told investigators that he had slept for 30 to 35 minutes during the flight. (PC: HT)

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, August 13, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The tremor occurred at 6:05:15 am IST at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the epicentre located at 36.881°N latitude and 74.402°E longitude. NCS classified the event as a “Felt Quake” and recorded it as reviewed. The earthquake was also reported as being about 302 km north-northwest of Kargil. Initial reports indicated no casualties or significant structural damage, although authorities continued monitoring the situation. The shallow earthquake was felt in the region, with further assessments awaited. (PC: Times Now)

The Air India commander of flight AI2379, which suddenly lost altitude on the Phuket-Delhi route on August 4, told investigators he had been struggling with sleep due to personal circumstances and had taken medication prescribed by his family doctor. Two people familiar with his questioning said he slept for 30–35 minutes during the flight before returning to the cockpit. The first officer was flying when the altitude event occurred, while the commander was monitoring. The pilot’s confirmatory drug test was positive for cannabis after an initial “non-negative” screening. Investigators also examined nine aircraft warning messages involving hydraulic systems, autopilot and elevator controls recorded within a minute during the altitude drop. The aircraft lost about 360 feet. (PC: X)

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of 4 Domino’s outlets after inspections found multiple food safety and hygiene violations. Three outlets are in Mumbai, while the fourth is in Satara. The FDA inspected 104 establishments operated by major food chains, including KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s and Subway, during its August 11 drive. Officials found issues involving food storage, temperature monitoring, pest control, sanitation and hygiene. The Satara outlet recorded a compliance score of 47%, while one Borivali outlet scored 54%. The FDA also issued 95 improvement notices during the statewide inspection. (PC: India Today)

A parliamentary inquiry panel has found all 3 charges against former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma proved in connection with unexplained cash found at his official residence in March 2025. The 3-member committee said Varma failed to explain the source or ownership of a “huge quantity” of cash and found that material evidence was not properly preserved. The panel also described his explanations as evasive and misleading. Its report was tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 12. Varma resigned as a judge in April, raising questions over whether Parliament can proceed with his removal motion. (PC: The Indian Express)

Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 faced multiple technical warnings before suddenly losing about 300 feet in altitude on August 4, documents reviewed by NDTV show. The aircraft reported low pressure in all 3 hydraulic systems, low fluid levels in 2 reservoirs and problems involving its elevator controls. The autopilot also disconnected during the flight. Air India initially described the incident as a brief turbulence-related event but later removed the word “turbulence” from its statement. At least 20 passengers and 4 crew members were injured. Both pilots have been removed from flying duties pending an inquiry. 

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced plans for a fresh protest, with founder Abhijeet Dipke calling it “Season 2 of Jantar Mantar.” The announcement came after a CJP volunteers’ meeting in Delhi was cancelled, with Dipke alleging that the venue owner faced pressure from the BJP. The BJP has not immediately responded to the allegations. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party will begin a nationwide “listening tour” to gather public feedback, with education as a key focus from Independence Day. The CJP had earlier ended its 36-day Jantar Mantar protest over the NEET paper leak issue on July 25. (PC: India Today)

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said the long-running dispute over Vijay Mallya’s unpaid dues should “be brought to an end” after his lawyer argued that a 2020 petition had become redundant. Mallya’s petition challenged a Prevention of Money Laundering Act court order allowing a State Bank of India-led lender consortium to use Enforcement Directorate-confiscated assets to recover his dues. Senior advocate Amit Desai said the petition was filed while settlement talks were underway and sought protection for certain assets, but most had since been attached and dealt with. The bench appeared to agree, with Justice Jadhav saying, “The idea is to move on,” warning that prolonged disputes could affect relations and India’s economy. (PC: AP)

The Air India pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight that lost 300 feet of altitude on August 4 had reportedly been taking medication for sleep difficulty, sources told Hindustan Times. The pilot disclosed the issue during questioning by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), saying personal circumstances had affected his sleep. The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test found marijuana in his system following the flight. It remains unclear when the marijuana was consumed. Both pilots have been taken off duty pending the investigation. The AAIB is probing the incident, while the DGCA will decide regulatory action based on the findings. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is home to more than 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants as the country observed World Elephant Day. In a social media post, Modi highlighted the elephant’s important place in India’s ecological heritage and conservation efforts. He said India has 33 Elephant Reserves that provide vital habitats and support the long-term protection of the species. The Prime Minister also praised forest officials, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts and local communities for their role in elephant conservation. He stressed that protecting elephants requires continued cooperation between communities and conservation authorities. (PC: X)