The Air India aircraft “experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise” on Tuesday, Aug. 4, the airline confirmed in a statement
Credit: Ritesh Shukla/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Thirteen passengers and four crew members were injured on Tuesday, Aug. 4 after an Air India flight traveling from Phuket, Thailand to Delhi in India hit severe turbulence
- Those injured were taken to the hospital “for medical evaluation,” the airline shared on X
- Air India is cooperating with authorities and providing support to those affected amid an ongoing investigation
Seventeen people have been injured after an Air India flight hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Air India flight AI2379 had been traveling from Phuket, Thailand to Delhi in India at the time of the incident, the airline said in a release shared on X. The aircraft “experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise,” per the post.
A total of 13 passengers and four crew members “sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical evaluation,” the airline said. There were 137 passengers on board at the time, as well as eight crew members.
“After the momentary event, the aircraft continued normally,” Air India said, adding that the plane had “landed safely in Delhi” at 11:07 a.m. local time.
#WATCH | Delhi: Several passengers injured after Air India flight encounters severe air turbulence while travelling from Phuket to Delhi.
Visuals from IGI Airport where an injured passenger is being moved into an ambulance to be taken to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/ybchsVDeoM
— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026
The airline confirmed that as of 6:50 p.m. that day, five passengers had “been discharged, while the remaining individuals [continued] to receive treatment and care.”
“Air India teams remain at the hospitals and in close contact with those affected to provide all necessary assistance and support,” the release stated.
One cabin crew member is believed to have suffered severe injuries, per The Times of India. The aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet in altitude during the incident, the outlet stated, citing a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India official.
“My father was sitting on the aisle seat and was having coffee,” one passenger said, according to the outlet. “Suddenly, a big jolt happened, and he flew and hit the roof and fell on the floor.”
The passenger said that his mother hit her head on the overhead compartment, while his wife and 2-year-old daughter had been thrown into the aisle, the newspaper reported.
A video posted by Asian News International (ANI) on X showed a passenger lying on a stretcher holding an ice pack on their head while being transported into an ambulance.
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Italian passenger Viviana told the outlet, “The flight started to have a big turbulence. I saw my sister fly up and my mother [was] knocked on the head. My phone [flew] away … People [sitting] behind me [were] injured very, very badly. One guy had blood all over his face. It was horrible; I thought [I could] die.”
“It was really scary. All the flight, I was shaking and crying,” she recalled. “It was horrible. I cannot hear well, I think from the pitch pressure.”
Credit: Richard Baker / In Pictures Via Getty
According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, the aircraft departed Phuket International Airport (PIA) on time at 8:27 a.m. local time and landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) 43 minutes early at 11:07 a.m. on Tuesday.
Local authorities are investigating the incident.
“Air India is fully cooperating with the investigation, and the aircraft manufacturer has also been notified,” the airline said on X. “Air India’s foremost priority remains the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew. We will continue to support those affected and their families and will work closely with the relevant authorities throughout the course of the investigation.”
Air India, DGCA India, PIA and IGIA didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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