NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Wednesday said the severe turbulence encountered by an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight lasted around five minutes, during which several crew members sustained spinal injuries but continued to assist passengers until the aircraft landed safely in the national capital.Speaking to reporters, Naidu said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a detailed investigation into the incident. The aircraft was isolated immediately after landing, and the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been taken into the regulator’s custody.“The moment the plane landed, it was moved to a separate hangar. The data recorder, the voice recorder—everything is in the possession of the DGCA. They will thoroughly investigate how and why this incident happened. Only when we have all the facts will we make them public,” the minister said.Naidu said medical teams attended to passengers and crew immediately after the aircraft landed in Delhi. Those requiring further treatment were shifted to Medanta Hospital, Fortis Hospital and the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.He said seven passengers admitted to Medanta Hospital on Tuesday were discharged after undergoing medical examinations. Two passengers admitted to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre and Fortis Hospital have also been discharged.However, four crew members remain under treatment at Fortis Hospital.“I personally visited them along with officials from the ministry and the DGCA. The crew members were very brave. Even after the incident, which lasted about five minutes and left them with injuries, the aircraft still had to fly for another hour. Throughout that period, they continued to provide all the assistance required to passengers,” Naidu said.The Airbus A320neo was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise on Tuesday. According to Air India, 13 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for medical evaluation.An Air India spokesperson said the aircraft “experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise” but continued the flight normally after the brief incident and landed safely in Delhi at 11.07 am IST.The airline said five injured passengers had been discharged by Tuesday evening, while the remaining injured individuals continued to receive treatment and medical care. The DGCA is investigating the cause of the turbulence.(With ANI inputs)
