Air India Phuket-Delhi flight hit by severe turbulence:12 injured, cabin ceiling damaged by mid-air jolts, aircraft lands safely in Delhi

An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe turbulence on Tuesday, injuring 12 people, including passengers and crew members, according to PTI citing sources. Flight AI2379 experienced violent mid-air jolts and briefly lost altitude before the pilots regained control and landed the aircraft safely at Delhi Airport. Those injured were taken to the airport’s medical centre for examination and treatment. Air India said all passengers and crew are safe and that no serious injuries have been reported. The airline added that it is investigating the incident. Images from inside the aircraft showed cracks in the cabin ceiling panels, apparently caused by the intense turbulence. Air India said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline is providing all necessary assistance to those affected and is fully cooperating with authorities investigating the incident. What is turbulence? Turbulence is caused by sudden changes in airflow around an aircraft, resulting in unexpected shaking or changes in altitude. The aircraft may move up and down or side to side, giving passengers the sensation that it is falling, although this is usually not the case. It is often compared to driving over a rough road. Turbulence occurs when smooth airflow over an aircraft’s wings is disrupted by weather systems, strong winds or atmospheric disturbances, creating air pockets. Based on its intensity, turbulence is classified into three categories: Light turbulence: The aircraft moves by up to 1 metre, with little or no noticeable impact on passengers. Moderate turbulence: The aircraft may move 3-6 metres, causing drinks or loose objects to spill. Severe turbulence: The aircraft can move by as much as 30 metres, posing a risk of injury to passengers not wearing seat belts. Can turbulence cause a plane crash? Modern aircraft are designed to withstand even severe turbulence, and pilots undergo specialised training to safely handle such situations. As a result, turbulence-related crashes have become extremely rare. However, turbulence has contributed to major aviation accidents in the past, including: USAir Flight 1016 (1994): Crashed during landing after encountering thunderstorm-related turbulence, killing 37 people. American Airlines Flight 1420 (1999): Skidded off the runway after severe weather and turbulence during landing, killing 11 people. American Airlines Flight 587 (2001): Crashed shortly after takeoff due to wake turbulence, killing all 260 people on board.