Seventeen people—13 passengers and four crew—were injured Tuesday when an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight was hit by mid-air turbulence. The plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude—roughly 300 feet, sources said—but managed to land safely in Delhi.

The airline said that five passengers have been discharged, while the remaining individuals continue to receive treatment and care. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. An official with the Indian regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is investigating the incident, said the pilot reported a ‘severe injury’ to one cabin crew member.

The plane was an Airbus A320 aircraft registered as VT-EXO and landed in Delhi at 11 AM, per flight tracking data.

It left Phuket at 8:41 AM (local time).

“Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, and all passengers and crew have safely disembarked,” an airline spokesperson said.

After first receiving treatment at the medical facility at the airport, the injured passengers were subsequently taken to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, and Medanta Hospital, Gurugram.

“There have been no serious injuries as of now. A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment have been taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination and care by Air India’s airport team and medical personnel. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority,” they said.

“We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation.”

Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha visited Fortis Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured passengers and assure them of all necessary assistance, the government said. 

Senior officers of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) also visited Fortis and Medanta Hospitals and are closely coordinating with the hospital authorities and the airline “to ensure the best possible medical care and all necessary support to the injured”, MoCA said.

The ministry said that the aircraft involved in the incident has been moved to a hangar, and its flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured for detailed examination. “The DGCA has initiated a detailed investigation into the occurrence. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA are closely monitoring the situation. Passenger safety remains the highest priority, and all necessary measures are being taken,” MoCA said.

“In accordance with established safety and regulatory procedures, the relevant regulatory authorities have been informed. Air India is fully cooperating with the investigation, and the aircraft manufacturer has also been notified,” the airline said Tuesday evening.

What is turbulence in flights?

In aviation, turbulence is a routine occurrence, with scores of flights experiencing it to varying degrees on a daily basis worldwide.

Some may be near the ground—when strong winds around the airport can affect planes as they take off or land. It can also occur at higher altitudes—when an updraft or downward flow of air in storm clouds can cause some turbulence as planes pass through.

Turbulence also occurs on the edges of jet streams—strong, fast, and narrow air currents that circle the globe.

Source: Indian Express