Air India Phuket-Delhi flight hits turbulence, passengers injured; flyer complains to DGCA

A passenger on an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi has approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), alleging that the aircraft experienced a sudden drop during the flight, leaving two elderly members of his family injured.

According to the complaint filed through the AirSewa portal, the Air India flight on August 4 was carrying six members of the passenger's family when it encountered turbulence at around 9:30 am IST. The passenger alleged that the aircraft suddenly dropped by around 300 feet, throwing passengers against the cabin ceiling.

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The complaint said the passenger's 62-year-old mother-in-law, Renu Raniwala, suffered a rib injury and a suspected spinal injury, while his 64-year-old father-in-law, Mukul Raniwala, sustained bruises.

The passenger also questioned the decision to continue the flight to Delhi instead of diverting to a nearby airport despite the presence of elderly passengers who had allegedly been injured.

He further alleged that there was no immediate medical assistance after the aircraft landed in Delhi, claiming that no wheelchair, ambulance, water or adequately informed staff were available until the family sought help.

The passenger also alleged that the pilot had warned passengers against recording or posting videos of the incident.

The complaint has sought a DGCA investigation into the turbulence incident, the decision not to divert the flight, the conduct of the crew and the ground response after landing. The passenger has also sought relevant records relating to the incident.

Air India, in its response to the complaint, said it was aware of the passenger's concerns and that the aircraft had landed safely in New Delhi. The airline said affected passengers and crew members had received necessary medical assistance and support.

"Passenger safety and well-being remain Air India's highest priority. We are currently reviewing your experience internally, and we kindly request that you allow us some time to investigate this matter thoroughly. We will get back to you as soon as possible with an update," an Air India nodal officer said in the response.

The airline said the flight encountered turbulence during cruise on August 4, resulting in a brief change in altitude and leaving a small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries.

Visuals from the airport showed ambulances stationed outside the terminal gate, while several passengers were seen being assisted out in wheelchairs. Some passengers appeared to have bandages on their heads and were taken for medical evaluation.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of in-flight safety and airline responses to turbulence-related incidents, with the DGCA yet to publicly comment on the complaint.

(With inputs from ANI)