Air India Flight Turbulence Leaves 17 Injured

New Delhi, August 04, 2026 An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi turned into a frightening experience on Tuesday after sudden turbulence struck during the journey, leaving passengers and crew members injured. The incident highlights how quickly unexpected turbulence can disrupt an otherwise routine flight, with the aircraft also sustaining some damage during the episode. Flight AI379, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, encountered the turbulence during the cruise phase, causing a sudden and brief drop in altitude. Seventeen people, including four cabin crew members, were injured. After the aircraft landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, injured passengers were seen being taken out on stretchers and shifted to an ambulance for medical assistance. Air India said the affected passengers and crew members had minor injuries and were taken to the airport's medical facility for precautionary check-ups and care. Passengers described the incident as extremely frightening. Viviana, whose mother was injured, told news agency ANI, "I am from Italy. The aircraft seemed to be moving normally, but suddenly the turbulence began. I saw my sister thrown up into the air from her seat," she said. She added, "My mother was knocked on her head. My phone fell. People sitting behind me suffered injuries. A male passenger had blood on his face. We thought we would die. It was really scary. I was shaking and crying. It was horrible. I cannot hear well right now." Another passenger recalled, "It had been an hour and a half since the flight. It was early morning. We were sleeping on the flight. The flight suddenly stopped while moving and turned around; it kept moving like this for 2-3 minutes. 15-20 passengers got injured; there were more than 100 people on the flight, and 70 to 80 per cent of the people got injured. We will take 100 per cent action against Air India," he said. Air India maintained that there were no serious injuries as of now and said its ground staff and medical personnel provided assistance to those affected. While the airline described the turbulence as brief, the accounts from passengers underline the intensity of the experience inside the cabin. The incident has once again brought attention to the unpredictable nature of air travel and the importance of swift medical assistance when passengers are injured during turbulence.