Air India passengers shared video showing damaged cabin panels after flight AI2379 suddenly lost altitude on its way from Phuket to Delhi.
NEW DELHI: Air India passengers have shared dramatic video from inside flight AI2379 showing cracked ceiling panels and loose cabin fittings after the Airbus A320neo suddenly lost altitude during a flight from Phuket to Delhi. The footage was recorded after the aircraft had stabilised and shows damage around the overhead area and aisle, although it does not capture the actual moment the plane lost altitude.
The Air India passengers were among 137 people, including three infants, travelling on the flight with eight crew members. Air India described what happened as a brief turbulence-related event involving a sudden change in altitude during the cruise. The aircraft recovered and continued to Delhi, landing safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 11.07am. Medical teams were waiting when the passengers and crew left the plane.
Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were initially taken to hospital for further checks and treatment, according to official figures. Authorities said all 12 were stable, while Air India later said five passengers had been discharged. Airline staff remained in contact with those receiving treatment and their families.
Passengers have also described how frightening the incident felt inside the cabin. Travellers told ANI that the strong movement began around 90 minutes after take-off, when many people were asleep. One passenger said the disturbance lasted around two to three minutes, while another said her sister was lifted from her seat and her mother hit her head. Other accounts described phones falling and passengers being hurt during the sudden movement.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation opened an investigation after the plane landed. Officials moved the aircraft into a hangar and secured its flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. These devices could help investigators understand exactly what happened before and during the sudden altitude change. Air India has said it is working with regulators and Airbus as the investigation continues.
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The Air India passengers’ video has now offered a closer look at what the cabin looked like after the incident, with damaged panels and fittings clearly visible. However, the footage alone cannot show what caused the aircraft to lose altitude. Investigators will examine the flight data, cockpit recordings, aircraft systems and other evidence before deciding what happened.
Impact to expect
The passenger video could bring more attention to the incident and Air India’s safety procedures as investigators work to find out what caused the sudden altitude loss.
