Thirteen passengers and four crew members were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence during its cruise on Tuesday, due to a sudden altitude loss of about 300 feet. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, landed safely at Delhi airport, where the injured were shifted to hospitals for medical evaluation. According to the airline, no serious injuries were reported, and several passengers were discharged after treatment.
Also Read: PM Modi Inaugurated Andhra Pradesh’s First Greenfield Airport, Launched Projects Worth 17,900 Crore
The incident reportedly occurred while the aircraft was flying over Odisha at an altitude of around 36,000 feet. Air India said the flight experienced a brief turbulence-related event that resulted in a momentary change in altitude before the crew regained stable flight. The aircraft, registered as VT-EXO, departed Phuket at 8.41 am local time and landed in Delhi at 11.07 am without further incident.
Also Read: SIR 3.0 Deleted More Than One Crore Names
DGCA Began Detailed Investigation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a detailed investigation into the occurrence. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the aircraft has been moved to a hangar, while the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured for examination. Air India has informed the relevant regulatory authorities and said it is fully cooperating with investigators. The aircraft manufacturer has also been notified as part of the standard safety procedure.
Also Read: India Crossed One Billion Tonnes of Coal Production After Commercial Mining Reforms
Safety Remains the Priority
The injured passengers were initially treated at the airport medical facility before being shifted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj and Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha visited the injured passengers at the hospital. Aviation experts note that turbulence is a common phenomenon caused by atmospheric disturbances such as storm systems, jet streams and vertical air currents. While most turbulence events are minor, injuries usually occur when passengers or crew are not securely restrained during sudden aircraft movement.