Fourteen people were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi was hit by severe turbulence that caused the aircraft to suddenly lose nearly 300 feet in altitude during the journey.
Flight AI 2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 134 passengers, encountered intense weather conditions while cruising toward Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday morning.
The sudden turbulence caused the aircraft to shake violently, with passengers describing moments of panic as the plane tilted and moved sharply for several minutes.
Some passengers and crew members who were not wearing seat belts were thrown from their seats, suffering injuries.
A passenger told ANI that the incident occurred about one-and-a-half hours into the flight while many travelers were asleep.
“Suddenly, the aircraft tilted sharply and started shaking violently. People were thrown around, and several passengers suffered head, neck and shoulder injuries,” the passenger said after landing in Delhi.
The aircraft landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport shortly after 11am, where emergency teams, ambulances and medical staff were waiting to assist those injured.
Several passengers were taken for medical checks, with some receiving first aid and others transported in wheelchairs for further evaluation.
Air India confirmed that the flight experienced a brief turbulence-related incident during cruising altitude, resulting in a temporary change in altitude.
The airline said all passengers and crew members had safely disembarked and that no serious injuries had been reported.
The airline added that passengers and crew members requiring additional medical attention were taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examinations.
Air India said passenger safety remains its top priority and that it will cooperate with aviation authorities reviewing the incident.
