Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hits Turbulence
At least 12 people were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence and briefly lost altitude on Tuesday. The Airbus A320neo landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Air India Flight AI2379 Hits Turbulence
Flight AI2379 was carrying 134 passengers from the Thai resort city when it encountered severe turbulence approximately 90 minutes after take-off. The aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet during the incident.
The sudden movement threw some passengers and crew members against seats and cabin fittings. Photographs and videos recorded after the incident showed damage to sections of the overhead cabin panels.
Initial reports said 10 passengers and two crew members were injured. Later accounts indicated that up to 15 people, including four crew members, were medically assessed following the flight.
Injured Passengers Treated After Delhi Landing
The aircraft continued towards Delhi and landed safely shortly after 11 am. Medical and emergency teams were positioned at the airport to assist those on board.
Several injured passengers and crew members were taken to medical facilities, including hospitals in Gurugram and Vasant Kunj, for further examination. Air India said the reported injuries were not life-threatening.
The airline described the episode as a brief turbulence-related altitude deviation and said its ground staff provided immediate medical assistance to affected travellers.
DGCA Investigates Sudden Altitude Loss
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has opened an investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders to establish the precise cause and sequence of events.
The inquiry will assess weather conditions, the aircraft’s movement and the crew’s response. Investigators will also examine whether the seat-belt sign was active when the turbulence occurred.
The Airbus aircraft will undergo technical inspections before returning to commercial service.
