Air India Flight Drops 300 Feet Mid-Air Due to Severe Turbulence, 12 Injured

A routine flight turned into a terrifying experience for passengers on Tuesday morning after Air India flight AI2379, traveling from Phuket to Delhi, encountered severe clear-air turbulence while cruising thousands of feet in the air. The sudden jolt caused the aircraft to drop nearly 300 feet in altitude within seconds, shaking the cabin violently and injuring at least 10 passengers and two crew members.

Eyewitnesses on board said the incident happened about an hour and a half into the journey while many travelers were resting. The abrupt drop caused unbelted passengers and crew to lose their balance, throwing some upward into cabin ceiling panels. Videos shared on social media shortly after the incident showed visible damage to interior ceiling panels and loose objects scattered across the aisle, with shaken passengers describing the experience as feeling like a second chance at life.

The aircraft, carrying 134 passengers and crew members, landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport shortly after 11:00 AM. Airport medical teams were placed on standby to receive the flight. Upon landing, all passengers disembarked safely, and those with minor injuries were taken immediately to the airport medical centre for treatment and check-ups.

Air India confirmed the incident in an official statement, noting that the flight experienced a brief turbulence-related event during cruise that resulted in a momentary altitude change. The airline stated that safety remains its top priority and that it is providing full medical assistance to affected flyers and crew members while cooperating with aviation regulator DGCA to investigate the event.