Air India flight suddenly drops 300ft in turbulence injuring at least 17

Several people were left injured after sudden turbulence gripped an Air India flight over the Bay of Bengal.  

Passengers and crew on board the flight AI2379 experienced a hair-raising moment when the Airbus A320 plunged mid-air en route to Delhi,India.

The ceiling inside the plane appeared to have been cracked by the sudden force of the drop,footage shows.

The turbulence hit around 90 minutes after takeoff from the Thai beach resort of Phuket earlier today,causing the plane to lose altitude for around 300ft.

A large crack appeared on the ceiling of the plane following the sudden turbulence

It was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.After the plane landed safely in Delhi at 11.07am local time,the injured people,some with bandages,were seen being taken to ambulances stationed outside in wheelchairs.Air India confirmed that 13 passengers and four crew were injured and were taken to hospital for medical checks.In its latest update on X,the airline said 12 people remain in hospital for treatment,while five people were discharged.A plane tracking map shows the route of the Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi (Picture: Flightradar24)One passenger,who was not named,told local media that most passengers were snoozing when the aircraft suddenly tilted.Some people injured their heads when the plane dropped,including children,he told ANI news agency.He said: ‘I hurt my lower back and my brother’s shoulder is injured,and his eardrum is burst.’Air India said: ‘Earlier today,Air India flight AI2379 operating from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise.‘After the momentary event,the aircraft continued normally and landed safely in Delhi at 11:07 hrs IST.‘Air India teams remain at the hospitals and in close contact with those affected to provide all necessary assistance and support.‘In accordance with established safety and regulatory procedures,the relevant regulatory authorities have been informed. Air India is fully cooperating with the investigation,and the aircraft manufacturer has also been notified.‘Air India’s foremost priority remains the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew. We will continue to support those affected and their families and will work closely with the relevant authorities throughout the course of the investigation.’An Air India flight was involved in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters last year when its Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed at takeoff near Ahmedabad airport.In total,260 people died in the crash,with 241 killed on board and 19 on the ground after the aircraft plunged into a hospital accommodation building.Only one person on board,Viswashkumar Ramesh,from Leicester,survived the disaster,which continues to be investigated.A draft final report into the cause of the crash by India’s aircraft accident investigation watchdog is expected later this year.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.