Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Dropped 425 Feet In 30 Seconds During Severe Turbulence At 36,000 Feet

Jagran Correspondent: An Air India flight (AI-2379) operating from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden turbulence-induced altitude drop mid-flight on Tuesday, triggering brief panic among passengers before landing safely at its destination.

During the incident, the aircraft descended at a rate of 1,600 feet per minute, meaning it was losing nearly eight metres of altitude every second which is roughly equivalent to the height of a two-and-a-half-storey building.

#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

In just 30 seconds, the aircraft lost around 425 feet of altitude, sparking panic inside the cabin.

Air India confirmed that Flight AI2379 encountered a brief weather-related event while cruising but recovered quickly. According to news agency PTI, 12 people were reportedly injured in the incident.

Severe Turbulence Hits Flight at 36,000 Feet

According to a flight-tracking platform, the aircraft departed Phuket at 8:41 am local time. Approximately two hours and 22 minutes later, at around 9:33 am. IST, it encountered severe turbulence.

At the time, the aircraft was flying over the Rengali Reservoir in Odisha at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet and a speed of around 888 km/h. The flight had remained stable until 9:32 am, when it was suddenly hit by the first powerful jolt.

ALSO READ: Air India Appoints Former Ethiopian Airlines Chief Tewolde Gebremariam As New MD and CEO

The initial impact caused the aircraft to lose around 175 feet in altitude. Over the next 30 seconds, it descended by more than 425 feet, while its speed dropped by 40.74 km/h.

Aircraft Loses Altitude Rapidly in 30 Seconds

According to available data, the aircraft’s vertical speed reached 1,600 feet per minute during the turbulence.

Aviation experts said that such a rapid change in altitude can briefly create a sensation of weightlessness inside the cabin.

ALSO READ: 'Fasten Seatbelts, Nobody Should Get Up': Frantic Plea By Cabin Crew Amid Air India Turbulence Goes Viral

Pilot Explains What Caused Turbulence

A senior pilot with a private airline explained that light to moderate turbulence is common during the monsoon season. However, turbulence of this intensity is generally caused by extremely strong updrafts and downdrafts within or around cumulonimbus (CB) clouds.

In such situations, an aircraft can experience a sudden altitude drop, along with changes in speed. The pilot compared the experience to a high-speed car suddenly falling into a deep pothole or sinkhole on the road.

In a statement, Air India said, "The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, and all passengers and crew have safely disembarked."

"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," it added.