New Delhi : An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence on Monday, briefly losing around 300 feet in altitude and leaving at least 12 passengers with minor injuries. The incident occurred shortly before the aircraft landed in the national capital. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that Air India flight AI2379, operated by an Airbus A320, experienced a sudden drop in altitude during its final approach to Delhi.
In a statement, Air India confirmed that all passengers and crew members safely disembarked after landing. Those who sustained injuries were shifted to the airport’s medical facility for treatment.”The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority. We are providing all necessary support to those affected and are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation,” an Air India spokesperson said.
Videos from inside the aircraft have gone viral on social media, purportedly showing cracks in the cabin ceiling allegedly caused by the force of the turbulence. Speaking to ANI, a passenger said the aircraft was hit by a sudden jolt around 90 minutes after take-off, when most passengers were asleep. He claimed the plane abruptly dropped and swayed violently for nearly two to three minutes, triggering panic inside the cabin and injuring several people.
The passenger further alleged that a majority of those on board were affected by the turbulence and said legal action would be initiated against Air India over the incident.The episode comes more than a year after an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe hailstorm-induced turbulence while approaching the Jammu and Kashmir capital, damaging the aircraft’s nose cone during its landing attempt.
Videos from that incident had also gone viral, showing hailstones battering the aircraft as it shook violently, while terrified passengers screamed and prayed throughout the harrowing ordeal.
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