An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi faced a sudden turbulence scare on Tuesday after the aircraft experienced a brief loss of altitude during its journey, leaving several passengers and crew members injured. The flight, operating as AI2379, landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport) in Delhi at 11:07 am IST after the mid-air incident.
The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it encountered severe turbulence during cruise. According to Air India, 17 people, including four members of the cabin crew, sustained injuries during the incident. Visuals from the airport showed injured passengers being moved on stretchers and taken to waiting ambulances for medical assistance after the aircraft touched down.
Passengers described the moments during the turbulence as frightening and chaotic. Viviana, a passenger travelling with her family, told news agency ANI that the aircraft appeared to be operating normally before suddenly beginning to shake violently. She said she saw her sister being thrown upward from her seat and several passengers around her getting injured during the sudden movement.
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Recalling the incident, Viviana said her mother suffered a head injury, while other passengers also faced injuries. She described the situation as extremely frightening, saying many passengers feared for their lives as the aircraft experienced the sudden turbulence. Some passengers reportedly suffered visible injuries, while others experienced shock and distress following the incident.
Air India said there were no reports of serious injuries so far and that passengers and crew members with minor injuries were taken to the airport medical facility for precautionary treatment. The airline stated that ground staff and medical teams provided immediate assistance and continued to support those affected after the aircraft landed.
In its latest update, Air India said five passengers had been discharged while the remaining injured individuals were still receiving medical care and assistance. The airline confirmed that its teams were in contact with passengers and their families, while authorities continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the turbulence event.
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