Turbulence injures 14 on AI Phuket-Delhi flight
An Air India (AI) flight from Phuket to Delhi ended with several passengers requiring medical attention after it encountered severe turbulence during cruise on Tuesday. Air India flight AI 2379 experienced a sudden drop in altitude, nearly 300 feet, causing minor injuries to a few passengers and crew members. A total of 14 people onboard, including 10 passengers and 4 crew members, are said to have suffered injuries in the incident. They have been shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram and India Spinal Injury Centre in Vasant Kunj.
“There was a sudden drop in the plane’s altitude. I hit my head on the roof and then fell down,” one passenger recalled. Air India said the aircraft landed safely and there were no serious injuries. “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 airline said in a statement. There has been no indication of structural damage to the aircraft or any emergency involving the flight itself.
As information emerged through the day, different figures surfaced regarding those injured. Initial reports suggested that eight to twelve passengers and crew sought medical attention after landing. Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj later confirmed that seven passengers had been admitted for observation and further evaluation.
As of Tuesday evening, none of those admitted had been reported to be in critical condition, providing reassurance that the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Air India is expected to review flight data and weather conditions encountered during the flight as part of its standard post-incident procedures. Depending on the final medical assessment of those injured, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may also examine the incident under established reporting norms.
The Phuket-Delhi sector is one of the busiest international leisure routes for Indian travellers.
