At least 17 people, including four cabin crew members, were injured after an Air India flight operating from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence in the air on Tuesday morning.
The Airbus A320 aircraft operating as flight AI2379 reportedly experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet due to the turbulence before landing safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at around 11.30 a.m.
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was carrying 134 passengers and eight crew members, according to reports.
During the sudden turbulence, several passengers who were not wearing seat belts were thrown into the air as the aircraft shook violently, causing them to hit the overhead cabin panels and luggage compartments before falling back onto the floor.
Several passengers, including young children, sustained injuries. Some passengers described the incident as a terrifying experience and said they felt as if they had received “a second chance at life.”
The injured passengers were examined by the airport medical team, and seven of them were admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj for further medical evaluation, including CT scans and MRI examinations.
Air India stated that the aircraft landed safely and that all necessary medical assistance and support were being provided to passengers and crew members.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India has launched a special investigation into the incident.
