A passenger named Shrikant Jha, who was traveling on an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 with his family, described moments of panic after the aircraft experienced severe turbulence during its journey. Recalling the incident, Jha said that passengers were thrown around and several people suffered injuries. Jha had filed a complaint with US authorities and AirSewa regarding the airport and the airline.
Speaking to Times Now, the passenger Shrikant Jha said the flight had been smooth until the aircraft suddenly encountered a disturbance lasting around 10 to 12 seconds, which later he came to know as per that reports that it dropped around 300-feet. Jha said that the sudden movement caused people inside the aircraft to be thrown from their seats and injured.
The passenger said his mother-in-law suffered a hairline fracture to her ribs after hitting the armrest, while his father-in-law, who had been sleeping without a seatbelt, was thrown upwards and struck the aircraft’s ceiling. He said his father-in-law escaped with bruising and bleeding.
‘Felt This Was Our Last Moment Together’: Passenger Shrikant Jha
Recalling the incident, Jha said the seatbelt sign was not on at that time. He had returned from the lavatory with his son shortly before the turbulence, and his son had asked to be held. Jha said he was holding his son when the aircraft suddenly began dropping.
“I was looking at my wife, my daughter, my mother-in-law,” he said, describing the 30 to 40 seconds as a period when he genuinely believed his family might not survive. He said passengers were screaming and there was “complete panic” inside the aircraft.
The passenger credited the pilots with bringing the situation under control, saying they “may very well be the heroes of the situation.” At the same time, however, he questioned what he described as the pilot’s demeanour and the manner in which passengers were addressed after the incident.
Questions Over Pilot’s Demeanour
Speaking further, Jha said he had noticed the pilot’s appearance and demeanour while boarding and felt that the pilot did not appear as well-presented as he would normally expect. He stressed that he initially dismissed the observation and that the flight itself was otherwise proceeding normally.
But he later raised concerns about the pilot’s behaviour following the turbulence. According to Jha, the pilot asked passengers not to take photographs or videos or post them on social media, saying such posts could cause the situation to be exaggerated. Jha said he felt passengers needed empathy and reassurance instead.
Jha also said that some passengers perceived the pilot as appearing intoxicated. However, he repeatedly emphasised that neither he nor the other passengers could confirm whether the pilot had actually been intoxicated.
Passenger Questions Decision to Continue to Delhi
Jha said another concern raised in his complaint to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was the decision not to divert the aircraft to the nearest airport despite injuries onboard.
According to his account, the pilot told passengers that the aircraft would continue to Delhi because the capital had better medical facilities. He questioned why Lucknow, which he noted is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, could not have provided adequate treatment.
He acknowledged that his suspicion about the reason for continuing to Delhi was only a personal feeling and said he could not confirm it.
‘Almost No Preparation’ At The Airport, Claims Jha
Adding further to his narration, Jha also criticised the response after the aircraft landed in Delhi. He said passengers were initially met mainly by wheelchair attendants and that there was no doctor or senior Air India or airport official immediately present. According to his account, his injured mother-in-law was being taken towards immigration when he stopped the process and asked what medical arrangements had been made.
Jha said an airport doctor eventually began treating injured passengers, while only a small number of junior or mid-level airline and airport staff were present during the initial response.
He further alleged that passengers were left for around 30 to 40 minutes without anyone asking whether they needed water or other assistance. He said he eventually had to call out for water before it was arranged.
The situation, he said, improved after Terminal 3 head Ravi Shankar Guha arrived. Jha said Guha took charge, expedited immigration and ensured that his mother-in-law was examined by medical staff before she was transported by ambulance to a hospital for further treatment.
Jha Says Compensation Is Not His Priority
Jha further said that Air India contacted him after his complaint was forwarded by the DGCA and discussed compensation and medical expenses. However, he said financial compensation was not his objective.
“My intention is simply to make sure that passenger safety is taken with the utmost seriousness,” he said, arguing that the events raised questions about the airline’s safety and emergency-response processes.
He also alleged that passengers later faced difficulties receiving medical attention at the hospital and said an Air India employee asked his family to discourage him from speaking to the media because it could affect the airline’s reputation. Jha said he believed passenger welfare should have taken priority over the airline’s image.
Seeking Answers and Better Safety Procedures
Jha said his complaint to the authorities focused on several issues, including the decision not to divert the aircraft, the perceived fitness and conduct of crew members, the response to injured passengers after landing, and what he described as inadequate preparedness among airline and airport personnel. He also questioned warnings against passengers recording or sharing footage of the incident.
He said he was not seeking money but answers and improvements to emergency procedures.
“I want to know that when we fly to and from India in the future, we and especially our children, are going to be safe,” Jha said.
According to the passenger, they were six people including him, his wife, two kids, and in-laws. They live in the US. They were in India for summer vacation and went to Phuket for vacation. They are US citizens.
The allegations and perceptions described by Jha remain his account of the incident. The material provided does not independently establish the claims regarding the pilot’s fitness, the aircraft’s handling, or the adequacy of the airline and airport response.
What Happened With Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight AI2379
As it has been reported, on Tuesday (August 4), Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly experienced turbulence for four to five minutes, in which some crew members and passengers suffered spinal and neck injuries as the plane suddenly dropped almost 300 feet. However, the flight later stabilised and landed safely.
Upon landing, the two-member pilot crew underwent a psychoactive substance test, which one of the pilots, the Pilot-in-Command (PIC), failed to clear. After the PIL failed to clear the test, he underwent a second dope test whose results are awaited.
In a statement on Sunday (August 9), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said that the investigation into the incident involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that was hit by severe turbulence has been handed over to the Aircraft Incident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“The occurrence has been classified as a Serious Incident and is under investigation by the AAIB,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
The statement added that both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening test. The screening test in respect of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing.
Samples have accordingly been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited, the ministry said.
“Pending investigation and completion of the prescribed process, both flight crew members have been taken off the roster by the DGCA,” it added.
Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results.
During the occurrence, injuries were reported to a few passengers and cabin crew members on board. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members comprising two pilots and six cabin crew.
The Ministry stated that it is committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and ensuring that all such occurrences are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken in accordance with the prescribed regulations and procedures.