“Fasten your seatbelts” is a familiar announcement for flyers. But aboard an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on Tuesday, the words carried a very different meaning as the aircraft was battered by severe turbulence that left 17 passengers, including four crew members, injured.
Even the cabin crew, trained to stay composed in emergencies, struggled to mask the gravity of the situation. As one air hostess screamed at the top of her lungs, another repeatedly pleaded over the public address system: “Fasten your seatbelts.”
By then, luggage had already tumbled from overhead bins. Broken locker flaps lay scattered across the aisle, while some bags hung precariously, threatening to fall with the next violent jolt.
Passengers were seen clutching their heads, praying and trying to comfort one another as panic spread through the cabin.
Minchen, who recorded the now-viral video from inside the aircraft, described it as “the worst two hours” of her life.
“Please, please, please always wear your seatbelt on a plane, even when the seatbelt sign is off. I saw people being thrown into the air, hitting their heads, and getting injured. For a while, I genuinely thought we weren’t going to make it. I hope everyone is okay,” she said.
For another passenger, the terrifying moment came when he saw his father being hurled into the air and slam into the aircraft’s ceiling after the plane suddenly dropped 300 feet in altitude. Describing the ordeal as “a rebirth”, he told ANI that his mother and two-year-old daughter were also injured.
Meanwhile, seven passengers from the flight were admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj for medical evaluation and treatment. The hospital said the passengers were brought to its Emergency Department after an alert from Air India following the turbulence incident involving flight AI2379, which landed safely in the national capital.
Recalling the incident, the passenger said his father was seated on the aisle and was having coffee when the turbulence struck. He said there was no mandatory seat belt sign on at the time. “Suddenly, a big jolt happened, and he flew and hit the roof and fell on the floor,” he said.
He said his mother, who was seated near the window, hit her head against the overhead cabin and developed swelling. He added that part of the overhead cabin also fell and struck her near the left eye, causing swelling there as well. According to him, she was treated at the airport by the Medanta team.
Describing what happened to his wife and younger daughter, he told ANI, “My wife and my two-year-old daughter also flew in the air and dropped into the passage between the seats.” He said his daughter suffered a head injury and swelling, and was also treated at the airport by the Medanta team.
He said doctors described the injuries as minor, after which the family was discharged and left for Chandigarh by cab. Speaking about the ordeal, he said there were screams inside the aircraft and that his elder daughter, who is five years old, was very frightened. “I would say that it was a rebirth for all of us,” he said, adding that the family placed its faith in Waheguru and landed safely.
The passenger also praised the crew, saying the pilot helped calm those on board and that the cabin crew was very helpful. He also called for an investigation into the episode, saying a thorough inquiry should be carried out to improve air safety for all.
For Viviana from Italy, the turbulence turned a routine flight into a terrifying ordeal as she watched her sister being thrown into the air and her mother suffer a head injury. “We thought we would die,” she said, recalling the panic and injuries inside the aircraft.
Fortis Hospital said the seven passengers admitted there were assessed immediately on arrival and treatment was started without delay. After initial stabilisation, a Code Yellow was activated to ensure a coordinated medical response and deployment of resources.
The hospital said the passengers were shifted for radiological investigations, including CT scans, MRIs and X-rays, as clinically indicated, and were being moved to inpatient rooms for further observation and management. “The medical teams are currently evaluating each patient. A clearer clinical picture, including the extent of injuries and the definitive line of treatment, will be available shortly upon completion of all investigations and specialist assessments,” Fortis said.
– Ends
Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Aug 5, 2026 09:07 IST
