On August 4, 2026, an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi suddenly hit severe turbulence mid-air and dropped about 300 feet. Around 12 people were injured before the plane landed safely in Delhi. Here’s the latest update on the incident.
Air India’s Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Turbulence
Air India confirms that flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a brief in-flight turbulence-related event during cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude. pic.twitter.com/bvGS97DMHg
— Tushar Jadon (@charming_mutant) August 4, 2026
The turbulence on Air India flight AI2379 caused the aircraft to suddenly lose altitude, leading to injuries among a few passengers and cabin crew members. According to The Indian Express, 12 people were injured, including 10 passengers. They were taken to the airport’s Medanta Medical Centre after the flight landed in Delhi. Air India has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that no serious injuries were reported.
The terrifying incident is expected to be investigated by Indian aviation authorities. The flight was reportedly operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft registered as VT-EXO. It landed at Delhi’s IGI Airport at 11 a.m. after departing from Phuket at 8:41 a.m. One X user, @charming_mutant, also shared a video of the turbulence from inside the aircraft.
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What Caused The Air India Flight To Drop?
According to The Times of India, the flight experienced a brief in-flight turbulence event during cruise, which resulted in a momentary change in altitude. Air India stated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority. The airline is also providing all necessary support to those affected and is cooperating with the relevant authorities as part of the investigation.
Turbulence is a common occurrence and can happen due to bad weather or shifting air currents. According to India Today, the exact cause of this turbulence is not yet known. However, the incident has drawn attention to clear-air turbulence, which occurs in cloud-free skies and is almost impossible for pilots to detect. Since there are often no warning signs, pilots may have little or no time to alert passengers. This can lead to sudden jolts and injuries, especially to unbelted passengers and cabin crew members.
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Fortunately, the flight landed safely at Delhi’s airport.
Cover Image Courtesy: Air India, Wikipedia/Aeroprints.com and @charming_mutant/X
FAQs
What happened to Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight?
Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight hit severe turbulence mid-air, dropped about 300 feet and injured 12 people before landing safely in Delhi.