Air India Phuket-Delhi turbulence: DGCA probe on, 4 crew members still hospitalised

Four crew members remain hospitalised after severe turbulence on an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight on August 4, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said.

“The turbulence incident that happened, most of the passengers in the first few hours only, were discharged from the hospital. Around 24 passengers were facing some kind of medical inconvenience. So they were taken to the hospital; thorough check-ups have been done for them, and most of them have been discharged,” Naidu said.

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He said the medical condition of the four crew members was being monitored.


“4 crew members are still there, and we are continuously watching their medical condition and the hospitals. Air India: Everyone is providing full support,” he said.

On the cause of the incident, Naidu said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was investigating the matter and that the final report was awaited.

“As far as how the incident happened, the DGCA is investigating it, and we still have to know the final report on that. So we are waiting for that,” he said.

Naidu also spoke about the regulatory framework for emerging areas in aviation, saying the DGCA had created committees and working groups to look into different aspects.

“We have created different committees within the working groups within DGCA to look into different ones. Safety is also an important aspect. Navigation is one. Vertiports are one,” he said.

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He said the regulator was engaging with the industry as technology and the aviation sector evolve.

“So they are continuously engaging with the industry and ensuring that as the industry progresses, as they are evolving in technology, our regulator is also involved with them as a stakeholder and the guidelines are created. So we have everything in progress,” Naidu said.

He said India was working on guidelines at its own pace rather than replicating those framed by other countries.

“The statement I want to make is that we are not waiting for other countries or the West to look at what guidelines they are making and replicate them. We are moving ahead at our own pace and looking at how the innovation is happening in India. So I feel the timelines are going to be reduced for us,” he said.