An Air India flight was violently jostled by turbulence, causing several passengers to be flung around the cabin as the plane suddenly spiraled 300 feet.
During the 300-foot drop, 17 passengers were injured, including a crew member who suffered a severe injury.
The Airbus A320 aircraft was flying from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi, India, when it flew through dense turbulence that shook the plane before it landed safely around 11 AM local time on Tuesday.
"The aircraft seemed to be moving normally. Suddenly, the turbulence began. I saw my sister thrown into the air from her seat. My mother was knocked on her head. My phone fell," a frightened passenger
Several Passengers Injured During Air India Flight
The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. 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.
"Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise. Resulting in a momentary change in altitude. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi. All passengers and crew have safely disembarked," an airline spokesperson said.
Injured passengers received medical treatment at the Delhi airport before being transported to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, and Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, according to the Indian Express.
"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," the airline said.
The incident remains under investigation.
Air India Has Daunting Flight History
Oddly, this is not the first life-threatening incident to occur on an Air India flight.
In June 2025, an Air India flight bound for London crashed moments after take-off. All but one of the 242 passengers on board were killed.
The incident marked the first time that a 787 Dreamliner — Boeing's newest plane — has been involved in a fatal crash since its debut in 2011.
In 2020, an Air India flight veered off the runway and into a village during a monsoon. The pilot reportedly aborted landing twice before touching down too far along the runway on the third attempt. Tragically, 21 people were killed in the incident.
