'No ambulances, no coordination': Family alleges lapses after Air India turbulence scare
Palak Raniwala, daughter of the passenger injured on the Air India flight AI2379 operating from Phuket to Delhi after it faced sudden loss of altitude during cruise, recounted the harrowing experience, saying that the turbulence was so severe that it caused passengers, including her father, to touch the ceiling of the aircraft.
Delhi-based family of an injured Air India passenger has accused the airline and airport authorities of inadequate emergency preparedness following a turbulence incident. According to the family, there were no ambulances on standby, senior airline officials were absent, and coordination was lacking despite multiple passengers requiring medical attention.
The turbulence, described as one of the most frightening experiences, caused passengers to be thrown from their seats, with cabin crew and the pilot appearing visibly shaken. Shrikant Jha, son-in-law of an injured passenger, criticized Air India and airport authorities for the absence of a coordinated emergency response. He stated that the ground staff appeared clueless and that emergency protocols should have ensured ambulances and medical teams were waiting on the ground.
Palak Raniwala, daughter of another injured passenger, recounted the terrifying moments inside the cabin, with her father being thrown upwards and striking the aircraft's ceiling, while her mother suffered fractured ribs. The Airbus A320neo, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise before landing safely in Delhi.
Of the 13 injured passengers, five have been discharged, while the remaining continue to receive treatment at the hospital. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident, and Air India is cooperating with the inquiry.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
