An Air India flight bound for Delhi experienced severe turbulence approximately 90 minutes after departing from Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred while the Airbus A320 was cruising at altitude, left at least 12 people injured.
The flight, carrying 134 passengers and crew, encountered a sudden drop in altitude. Those not wearing seatbelts were thrown upwards, striking their heads against the cabin roof. The extreme turbulence also caused cracks in the aircraft's interior.
Footage from the flight showed passengers in distress as the plane violently shook. One passenger was seen with an arm in a sling.
The aircraft landed safely at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 11 a.m. local time, where emergency services were on standby. Injured individuals, some with head bandages, were transported from the tarmac in ambulances to the Medanta medical center in Gurugram for treatment. One passenger is believed to have sustained a spinal fracture.
Air India stated that no serious injuries were reported as of Tuesday afternoon. A spokesperson for the airline described the event as a 'brief turbulence-related incident' and attributed it to a sudden change in altitude before the crew could regain control. The airline emphasized that passenger and crew safety is its top priority and pledged to provide necessary support to those affected. Air India also confirmed its full cooperation with authorities during the investigation.
This incident follows a separate Air India plane crash in June that resulted in 260 fatalities. That accident involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. A preliminary report into the June crash indicated that fuel switches were moved from 'Run' to 'Cutoff' before the flight, leading to engine failure, and suggested confusion in the cockpit prior to the incident.