Air India Flight Loses 300 Feet Mid-Air, 15 Injured in Turbulence Scare

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday morning, causing the aircraft to suddenly lose around 300 feet in altitude and leaving at least 15 people injured, including a cabin crew member who reportedly sustained serious injuries, according to aviation officials.

The Airbus A320, operating flight AI2379, landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at approximately 11:30 am. The aircraft was carrying 134 passengers and eight crew members. Following the landing, the injured were shifted to hospitals and medical facilities for treatment and evaluation.

According to officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the cruise phase of the flight. The regulator said 11 passengers and four cabin crew members were injured. The pilot reported that one cabin crew member suffered severe injuries, another crew member was injured, while several passengers sustained minor injuries due to the abrupt altitude change.

However, Air India presented a different assessment, stating that the aircraft experienced a brief turbulence-related event resulting in only a momentary change in altitude. The airline said the flight landed safely and that no serious injuries had been reported. It added that a small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries were taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination.

The DGCA has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the sudden altitude loss. Air India said it is extending all necessary assistance to the affected passengers and crew while cooperating fully with the regulator.

While pilots routinely alert passengers to expected turbulence, injuries caused by severe turbulence remain uncommon. The incident comes amid heightened global attention to aviation safety following a series of turbulence-related events in recent years, including the fatal Singapore Airlines turbulence incident in 2024.