Air India Phuket-Delhi plane dropped 300 feet, 17 injured in mid-air scare

Seventeen people – 13 passengers and four crew – were injured Tuesday after an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight was hit by turbulence mid-air. The plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude – roughly 300 feet, sources said – but managed to land safely in Delhi.

The injured people were taken to the airport’s medical centre, sources told The Indian Express. An official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is investigating the incident, said the pilot reported a ‘severe injury’ to one cabin crew member.

The plane was an Airbus A320 aircraft – registered as VT-EXO – and landed in Delhi at 11 AM, per flight tracking data.
It left Phuket at 8:41 AM (local time).

“Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew have safely disembarked,” an airline spokesperson said.
“There have been no serious injuries as of now. 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 safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority,” they said.