15 injured as Air India flight hit by severe mid-air turbulence
New Delhi:At least 15 people, including passengers and cabin crew members, were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi encountered severe mid-air turbulence and briefly lost around 300 feet in altitude on Tuesday.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Air India A320 aircraft, operating flight AI2379, landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 11:30 a.m., and all 134 passengers and eight crew members disembarked safely.
An Air India spokesperson said the aircraft experienced a brief turbulence-related event during the cruise phase, resulting in a sudden change in altitude. The airline said the injured passengers and crew members were provided immediate medical assistance after landing.
Reports said 11 passengers and four cabin crew members sustained injuries, with one crew member suffering serious injuries. All those injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident. A senior DGCA official said the pilot reported a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude, which caused injuries to passengers and cabin crew.
While pilots routinely warn passengers about possible turbulence, especially during adverse weather, incidents resulting in multiple injuries are rare. Among other such serious incidents in India, a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Durgapur had faced severe turbulence on May 1, 2022, resulting in the death of a passenger and injuries to several others.
