By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
At least 17 people, including passengers and crew members, were injured after an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence, causing a sudden loss of altitude before landing safely in the national capital on Tuesday.
According to Air India, flight AI2379, operated by an Airbus A320neo, experienced a “sudden loss of altitude during cruise.” Despite the momentary incident, the aircraft continued its journey normally and landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11:07 a.m.
The flight was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. Air India said 13 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries and were shifted to hospital for medical evaluation. As of 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, five passengers had been discharged, while the remaining injured continued to receive treatment and care. Airline teams remained at the hospitals to assist those affected and their families.
Initial reports suggested that the turbulence occurred as the aircraft was approaching Delhi, triggering panic inside the cabin. The sudden movement is believed to have caused injuries to several occupants.
In an official statement, Air India said the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority. The airline said the relevant aviation authorities had been informed in accordance with established safety and regulatory procedures and that it was fully cooperating with the investigation. The aircraft manufacturer has also been notified.
The incident once again underscores the risks posed by unexpected turbulence and the importance of passengers keeping their seat belts fastened whenever seated, even if the seat belt sign is switched off.