Air India Phuket–Delhi Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, 17 Injured After Sudden 300-Foot Drop
An Air India flight travelling from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi encountered severe turbulence on August 4, leaving 17 people injured after the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the flight. The incident has triggered a regulatory investigation into what happened aboard the aircraft.
The flight, AI2379, was carrying passengers and crew when the aircraft suddenly dropped by approximately 300 feet. The abrupt movement threw some passengers and crew members from their seats and into the cabin, causing multiple injuries.
According to reports, 13 passengers and four members of the crew were injured. Several injured people required medical attention after the aircraft reached Delhi. One crew member was reported to have suffered a serious injury.
Passengers described the incident as lasting several minutes and said the sudden movement created panic inside the cabin. Some passengers were reportedly thrown against the ceiling, overhead compartments and into the aisle as the aircraft encountered the severe turbulence.
Despite the violent movement, the aircraft remained under control and continued its journey to Delhi. It landed safely, with reports indicating that the aircraft arrived ahead of its scheduled time.
The incident has prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to investigate. Aviation authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the sudden altitude change and whether appropriate operational and passenger-safety procedures were followed.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the severe turbulence lasted for nearly five minutes. The injuries sustained by members of the cabin crew have added to concerns about the force of the turbulence encountered by the aircraft.
The episode has also raised questions from passengers about the decision to continue the flight to Delhi after the turbulence. One passenger subsequently complained to the DGCA, saying that two elderly family members had suffered injuries during the incident.
Air India has said that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority and that it is cooperating with the investigation. The airline has also notified the aircraft manufacturer about the incident.
The turbulence incident comes at a sensitive time for Air India, following heightened public scrutiny of the airline’s safety record after the fatal Ahmedabad crash in June 2025. Authorities are therefore expected to examine the latest incident carefully, although severe turbulence by itself does not necessarily indicate an aircraft malfunction.
The incident also highlights the dangers posed by unexpected turbulence even when an aircraft is operating normally. Passengers who are not wearing seat belts can be thrown upward or sideways during sudden changes in aircraft movement, potentially resulting in serious injuries.
As the DGCA investigation continues, the focus will be on establishing exactly what atmospheric conditions the aircraft encountered, how the flight crew responded and whether any additional safety measures could have reduced the injuries.
For Air India, the immediate priority is the recovery and treatment of those injured and cooperation with the aviation regulator. For passengers, the incident is another reminder of why seat-belt instructions remain important throughout a flight, particularly when travelling through areas where turbulence may develop unexpectedly.
