Air India Flight From Phuket Faces Severe Turbulence, 15 Injured; DGCA Probe Launched

An Air India flight travelling from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe air turbulence on Monday, August 4, leaving 15 passengers and crew injured. The aircraft landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Landing completed; passengers and crew assessed

Flight AI2379, operated on an Airbus A320 (registration VT-EXO), was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, along with eight crew members. According to accounts shared by passengers, the aircraft faced sudden turbulence during cruise. Several passengers described objects being thrown inside the cabin as the plane dropped sharply within seconds.

Air India said the incident was a brief, turbulence-related event that led to a momentary change in altitude. The airline also stated that all passengers and crew disembarked safely. A small number of those with minor injuries were taken for precautionary medical evaluation by the airport medical team.

Injuries treated at hospitals; officials visit patients

Initial reports had placed the injury count lower, but the Press Information Bureau later confirmed that 15 people were injured, including seven passengers who were hospitalised. DGCA officials said one cabin crew member suffered a severe injury, another had an injury, and several passengers were left with minor injuries.

Injured passengers were admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj and Medanta Hospital. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited injured passengers at Fortis Hospital with senior officials from the civil aviation ministry, including the Secretary and the Director General of Civil Aviation. Officials also visited Medanta Hospital to coordinate with medical staff.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched a detailed investigation into the incident. The probe will look at the prevailing weather conditions at the time, crew handling during the event, and the airline’s operational procedures. Air India has been asked to preserve relevant flight records and submit required reports. Aviation officials have said turbulence-related events remain an important area of focus for flight safety planning, especially as weather patterns become more unpredictable.