A routine flight from Phuket to Delhi turned into a terrifying experience for passengers on Tuesday after an Air India aircraft was hit by severe turbulence, sending people into the air and damaging parts of the cabin.
Flight AI379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, experienced a sudden turbulence-related event during its cruise. The aircraft briefly changed altitude, with passengers later reporting that it appeared to drop around 300 feet. The flight eventually landed safely in Delhi, but 17 people, including 13 passengers and four cabin crew members, were injured.
The incident has since triggered an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while videos recorded inside the aircraft have given a glimpse of the panic that unfolded during the flight.
A viral video showed cabin crew members urgently asking passengers to remain seated and fasten their seat belts. One crew member could be heard repeatedly telling passengers not to get up as luggage fell from overhead compartments and damaged panels were scattered across the aisle. The footage showed passengers trying to comfort one another as the aircraft shook.
For those on board, the few minutes of turbulence felt much longer. Minchen, a passenger who recorded the video, described the experience as the “worst two hours” of her life. She later urged other flyers to keep their seat belts fastened even when the seat-belt sign is switched off, saying she saw passengers being thrown upwards and hitting their heads.
Another passenger described seeing his father thrown into the air after the sudden drop in altitude. He said his father hit the aircraft ceiling before falling to the floor. Other members of his family, including his mother and young daughter, were also injured during the incident.
The passenger described the experience as a “rebirth” for his family. He said his elder daughter was frightened by the screams inside the aircraft, while his younger daughter suffered a head injury and swelling. His mother also hit her head against the overhead cabin. The family was later examined by medical teams and was discharged after doctors described their injuries as minor.
An Italian passenger, Viviana, also recalled the frightening moments. She said she saw her sister being thrown into the air and her mother suffering a head injury. She described the situation as extremely scary and said passengers feared they might not survive.
Air India said the aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew members disembarked. The airline initially said a small number of passengers and crew with minor injuries were taken for precautionary medical assessment. Subsequent updates put the number of injured at 17.
Other injured passengers and crew were taken to medical facilities, with reports saying those admitted were stable. Earlier reports had put the number of people taken to hospitals at 14, comprising 10 passengers and four crew members, before the overall injury count was updated to 17.
The turbulence also left visible damage inside the aircraft. Videos showed open and damaged overhead bins, broken panels and luggage scattered across the cabin. Passengers said the sudden movement caught them off guard, with some being lifted from their seats and hitting the ceiling.
The DGCA has begun examining the incident to establish exactly what happened during the flight. The aircraft’s flight data and other available information will be important in determining the nature of the turbulence and the sudden altitude change. The aviation regulator has also taken possession of the aircraft’s black box as part of the investigation, according to the latest reports.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has said the government is monitoring the situation. The investigation is expected to look at the duration and intensity of the turbulence, the aircraft’s altitude change, weather conditions and the circumstances surrounding the injuries.
The immediate focus now is on the injured passengers and crew and on understanding what caused the severe turbulence. For Air India and aviation authorities, the incident is also another opportunity to examine emergency procedures and passenger safety measures.
As the DGCA investigation continues, passengers are left with a simple lesson from those who experienced the ordeal firsthand: keeping the seat belt fastened throughout a flight can make a crucial difference when the unexpected happens.
