Plane to India suddenly lost altitude, 17 injured: 'We thought we were going to die'

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost altitude due to turbulence. Seventeen people were injured, some hospitalized. The incident occurred on August 4 and became known the next day. Passengers described the experience as a fear of death. The airline confirmed the turbulence and is providing assistance to the injured.

On Tuesday, August 4, Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 traveling from Phuket (Thailand) to Delhi (India), encountered severe turbulence during cruise flight. The aircraft suddenly lost about 300 feet (approximately 90 meters) of altitude. There were 134 passengers on board. At least 17 passengers and crew members were injured, some taken to hospitals. Passengers told the Times of India that everything happened in seconds: unbelted people were thrown from their seats, some hit the ceiling and overhead bins, and service carts flew through the cabin. One passenger described the experience as 'We thought we were going to die.' After landing, she felt that those on board had been given a second chance at life. Published photos and videos show chaos in the cabin and cracks in the ceiling panel. Air India stated that the aircraft experienced brief turbulence, landed safely, and everyone disembarked. The airline is providing assistance to the injured and cooperating with authorities investigating the incident. Indian authorities have launched an investigation. Aviation experts recommend keeping seatbelts fastened even after the sign is turned off, as clear-air turbulence can occur without warning. A 2023 University of Reading study showed that such turbulence zones are becoming more frequent: over the North Atlantic, annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55% from 1979 to 2020. Scientists link this to climate change and predict an increase in cases over Europe and the Middle East.