Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 5
Air India Flight Drops 300 Feet, Hospitalizing 17 After Turbulence
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 5

Air India Flight Drops 300 Feet, Hospitalizing 17 After Turbulence

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 5

Summary

  • Flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost about 300 feet during cruise on Aug. 4, sending 13 passengers and four crew members to hospitals after landing safely in Delhi.
  • Air India said brief turbulence triggered the altitude drop on the Airbus A320neo, which was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew.
  • By Aug. 5, all 13 passengers had been discharged, while the four crew members were still receiving medical care and airline teams remained at hospitals.
  • Indian authorities have opened an investigation under safety protocols, and Airbus has been notified.
  • The incident adds to recent turbulence-linked emergencies after a 2024 Singapore Airlines flight killed one person and a Korean Air flight plunged more than 26,000 feet.

Insights

With severe turbulence injuries supposedly rare, why were 17 people hospitalized after a routine flight to New Delhi?
Will the severe injuries sustained by the Air India crew force a radical change in how airlines handle in-flight service?
What secrets will the grounded Air India flight's black boxes reveal about the sudden 300-foot plunge that terrified passengers?