‘It was rebirth for all of us’: Passenger recounts ordeal after Phuket-Delhi Air India flight hits severe turbulence

NEW DELHI: A passenger on board an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that encountered severe turbulence on Tuesday recounted the ordeal, saying his father was thrown into the air and hit the aircraft’s roof, while his mother and two-year-old daughter also suffered injuries, describing the incident as “a rebirth”.

“My father was sitting on the aisle seat and was having coffee. He was not wearing a seat belt as there was no mandatory light for it. Suddenly, a big jolt happened and he flew and hit the roof and fell on the floor”, the passenger said.

“My mother, who was sitting near the window, had her head smashed into the overhead cabins, which got swollen. She was later treated at the airport by the Medanta team”, he said. “One part of the overhead cabin fell and hit my mother near her left eye and caused swelling there too”, the passenger added.

Recounting how his wife and two-year-old daughter were affected, he said, “My wife and my two-year-old daughter also flew in the air and dropped into the passage between the seats. My daughter suffered a head injury and swelling but was also treated by the Medanta team at the airport. Since the doctor said that the injuries were minor, we were discharged and left for Chandigarh by cab”, he said.

Describing the experience as extremely frightening, the passenger said, “I would say that it was a rebirth for all of us. There were screams and my elder daughter, who is five years old, was so scared, as were we all. But we stayed put in Waheguru and we landed safely.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Several passengers injured after Air India flight encounters severe air turbulence while travelling from Phuket to Delhi.

Visuals from IGI Airport where an injured passenger is being moved into an ambulance to be taken to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/ybchsVDeoM

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026

Praising the flight crew, he said, “The pilot did a good job in helping us calm down. The crew was very helpful”. Calling for an investigation into the incident, the passenger said, “A thorough inquiry should be done to improve air safety for all.”

Meanwhile, seven passengers from the flight that encountered turbulence have been admitted to Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj for medical evaluation and treatment, the hospital said on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Delhi: A passenger says, “It had been an hour and a half since the flight. It was early morning. We were sleeping inside the flight. The flight suddenly stopped while moving and turned around…it kept moving like this for 2-3 minutes…15-20 passengers got injured…there… pic.twitter.com/S5SEDYUCqZ

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026

According to the hospital, the passengers arrived at the Emergency Department (ER) following an alert received from Air India regarding the turbulence incident involving flight Al2379, which landed safely in the national capital.

The hospital said the patients were assessed immediately upon arrival and treatment was initiated without delay. After initial stabilisation, a Code Yellow was activated to ensure a coordinated medical response and deployment of resources.

#WATCH | Delhi: Several passengers injured after Air India flight encounters severe air turbulence while travelling from Phuket to Delhi pic.twitter.com/OM1lXKRKcm

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026

“Following the initial stabilisation of the patients, a Code Yellow was activated to ensure a coordinated hospital response and optimal deployment of resources,” the hospital said in a statement. It added that the passengers were shifted for necessary 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.

This comes after the Air India flight operating from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi encountered turbulence earlier today, resulting in a brief change in altitude. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, and all passengers and crew members disembarked.

In a statement, Air India said flight A12379 experienced a “brief in-flight turbulence-related event” during the cruise, resulting in a momentary change in altitude.

“There have been no serious injuries as of now. A small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries requiring medical assessment have been taken to a medical facility at the airport for precautionary examination and care by Air India’s airport team and medical personnel,” the airline said. (ANI)