Severe turbulence on Air India flight AI2379 injured 11 passengers and four crew members on Tuesday [1], [2].
The incident highlights the persistent risks of unexpected atmospheric disturbances, which can cause sudden aircraft altitude loss and severe injuries to unrestrained occupants.
The Airbus A320 was traveling from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi, India, when it encountered the turbulence [3], [4]. During the event, the aircraft lost approximately 300 feet in altitude [1]. The flight eventually landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi [2].
Passengers described a scene of chaos inside the cabin. One unnamed passenger said a baby was thrown three seats away and some people hit the ceiling [1]. Another passenger said the child was thrown several seats away from the person holding them [2].
Viviana, an Italian passenger on the flight, described the experience as a horrible ordeal. "We thought we would die," she said [3].
Air India has not yet released a formal technical report on the cause of the atmospheric encounter. The total number of injured individuals reached 15, comprising the 11 passengers, and four crew members [1].
“"We thought we would die."”
This event underscores the danger of clear-air turbulence, which often occurs without warning and cannot always be detected by onboard radar. The injuries to both passengers and crew suggest that the severity of the drop bypassed standard safety precautions, emphasizing the critical importance of seatbelt compliance throughout the duration of a flight.
