An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced turbulence on Tuesday, losing approximately 300 feet in altitude and leaving 13 passengers injured.
Flight AI2379 landed safely in Delhi following the incident. Sources said the injured passengers were taken to hospital for medical examination. Four cabin crew members were also injured, according to sources.
Five passengers have been discharged, while the remaining individuals continue to receive treatment and care, Air India said in an updated statement in the evening.
The DGCA is investigating the incident, with sources saying the regulator is also looking into whether a technical fault played a role.
In a statement, the airline said AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, experienced a “brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise”, resulting in a “momentary change in altitude”.
“A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment have been taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination and care by Air India’s airport team and medical personnel,” an Air India spokesperson said.
“The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority. We are providing all necessary support to those affected and are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation,” the spokesperson added.
Data available on flight-tracking website Flightradar24 also showed that the Airbus A320 operating the flight experienced a brief loss in altitude.
Footage purportedly recorded inside the aircraft and circulating on social media showed visible damage to parts of the cabin ceiling following the incident.
Speaking to news agency ANI, a passenger on board said the aircraft experienced a sudden jolt about an hour and a half into the journey, when many passengers were asleep.
According to the passenger, the aircraft abruptly dropped and swayed violently for nearly two to three minutes, leaving several people injured.
He claimed that 15-20 passengers were injured and said legal action would be pursued against Air India over the incident. Air India has not corroborated that injury figure, saying only that a “small number” of passengers and crew required medical assessment.
The incident comes more than a year after a Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight encountered severe hailstorm-induced turbulence while approaching Srinagar, damaging the aircraft’s nose cone.
Videos recorded inside the cabin during that incident showed the aircraft shaking violently as hailstones struck it, while passengers could be heard screaming and praying.
– Ends