"It Felt Like a Second Life": Family Recounts Horror as Turbulence Injures Passengers on Air India Flight

One moment, they were returning home from a family holiday.

The next, they were clinging to their seats as screams filled the cabin.

For passengers aboard Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi, Tuesday's journey turned into a terrifying ordeal after the aircraft was hit by severe turbulence that hurled passengers into the air and left several injured.

"It was a rebirth for all of us," one passenger said after landing safely in Delhi.

His father, seated on the aisle with a cup of coffee, wasn't wearing a seat belt because the seat belt sign was off.

Then came the jolt.

"My father flew into the air, hit the roof of the aircraft and crashed onto the floor," he recalled.

The violence inside the cabin spared no one.

His mother, seated by the window, smashed her head against the overhead compartment before a section of the cabin struck her near the left eye, leaving her badly swollen.

His wife and their two-year-old daughter were also thrown into the air before landing in the aisle between the seats. The toddler suffered a head injury and swelling.

Their five-year-old daughter watched the chaos unfold.

"There were screams everywhere. She was terrified. We all were."

Another passenger described waking up to what felt like the aircraft losing control.

"The flight had been in the air for about an hour and a half. Most of us were asleep. Suddenly, the aircraft tilted sharply and kept shaking for nearly two to three minutes," he said.

He claimed that between 15 and 20 passengers were injured.

"Someone's baby got hurt. I injured my lower back. My brother suffered injuries to his shoulder and back."

Despite the panic, passengers praised the flight crew for remaining composed.

"The pilot did a good job calming everyone down. The cabin crew was extremely helpful," one passenger said.

The aircraft landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport, but the emergency was far from over.

Ambulances were waiting outside the terminal as injured passengers were helped out in wheelchairs, while others walked off with bandages wrapped around their heads before being taken for medical examination.

Seven passengers were admitted to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, where doctors activated a Code Yellow, the hospital's emergency response protocol, after receiving an alert from Air India before the aircraft landed.

Doctors immediately began treatment before sending patients for CT scans, MRIs and X-rays wherever required.

"The medical teams are currently evaluating each patient. A clearer clinical picture will emerge after specialist assessments are completed," the hospital said.

A dedicated Air India coordination team remained at the hospital to assist passengers and communicate with their families.

In a statement, Air India said flight AI2379 encountered a "brief in-flight turbulence-related event" during 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 for precautionary examination and care," the airline said.

The airline added that passenger safety remained its highest priority and that it was extending all necessary assistance while cooperating with authorities investigating the incident.

For the family that walked away bruised but together, however, the official statements capture only part of what happened inside the cabin.

"It wasn't just another flight," the passenger said quietly.

"It felt like we got a second chance at life."

(With inputs from ANI)