An Air India flight operating from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi encountered severe clear-air turbulence on Tuesday morning, causing a sudden altitude drop of approximately 300 feet and injuring over a dozen passengers and cabin crew members before landing safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 134 passengers and eight crew members, landed in the national capital at approximately 11:00 AM local time. Emergency medical units, including teams from the Medanta Airport Medical Centre, were put on high alert and deployed directly to the tarmac to assess and treat arriving passengers.
Incident Details & Immediate Medical Response
According to preliminary reports from aviation authorities, the aircraft experienced a brief but intense turbulence-related event during its high-altitude cruise phase. The sudden jolt threw unsecured passengers and crew members from their seats into the aisle and overhead storage bins.
- Casualties & Support: At least 14 individuals—including 10 passengers and four cabin crew members—sustained injuries ranging from head contusions to minor fractures. Seven passengers were subsequently transferred to nearby specialized facilities, including Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj and Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, for advanced radiological evaluation (CT scans and MRIs).
- Airline Statement: An official spokesperson for Air India confirmed that the aircraft disembarked all passengers safely following landing. “A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment were taken to medical facilities for precautionary examination and care. The safety and well-being of our passengers remain Air India’s highest priority,” the airline stated.
Regulatory Action & Investigation
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has officially initiated a high-level investigation into the incident. Investigators are reviewing flight data records (FDR) and cockpit voice recorders (CVR) to determine whether atmospheric clear-air turbulence or transient technical anomalies contributed to the sudden loss of altitude.
Passengers onboard described the event as unexpected and frightening, noting that the severe jolt occurred before mandatory seatbelt instructions could be fully illuminated.
Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport remain normal across all three main terminals, with no further flight disruptions reported.