NEW DELHI, AUG 5 (AGENCIES): At least 13 passengers and four crew members were injured when an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered turbulence and lost around 300 feet in altitude before managing to land safely at Delhi airport on Tuesday morning.
Sources said there were 37 passengers and eight crew members on board the narrow-body A320 aircraft, operating flight AI2379.
The flight took off from Thailand’s Phuket at 8.41am and landed in Delhi at 11.07am. The exact cause of the turbulence and its location have not yet been revealed. “Thirteen passengers and four crew members sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation. As of 6.50pm on August 4, five passengers have been discharged, while the remaining individuals continue to receive treatment and care. Air India teams remain at the hospitals and in close contact with those affected to provide all necessary assistance and support,” Air India said in a statement.
Sources said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was probing the incident. The aircraft has been moved to the hangar and the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured for detailed examination.
“The pilot-in-command reported a severe injury to one cabin crew member, injury to another and minor injuries to a few passengers due to a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude,” a senior DGCA official told PTI.
Air India said it would work closely with relevant regulatory authorities to assist the probe. “Air India is fully cooperating with the investigation, and the aircraft manufacturer has also been notified,” it said.
Fortis Hospital, where some of the injured were admitted, said it had discharged three passengers while four crew members were still under treatment.
Minister of civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu visited Fortis Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured and assure them of all necessary assistance.
Turbulence is a sudden, irregular movement of air triggered by adverse weather that causes aircraft to shake or lose altitude.
It is a usual standard operating procedure for pilots to inform passengers about possible turbulence, especially during bad weather. However, mid-air turbulence resulting in injuries to passengers and cabin crew is rare.
Thursday, August 6, 2026