Patna: Passengers on board an Air India flight from Delhi to Patna faced moments of sheer panic on June 24 when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence mid-air.
Flight AI-0407, which had taken off from Delhi at 2:40 pm after a delay of about an hour, had been airborne for nearly 60 minutes when the incident occurred. With the seatbelt signs switched off and refreshments being served, passengers were moving freely within the cabin. It was during this window that the plane began to shake violently.
A female passenger, who was returning to her seat from the toilet, fell in the aisle due to the sudden jolt. Several parts of the overhead luggage compartments came loose, and a few fell onto passengers, causing further alarm. Cabin crew members, taken by surprise, clung to the seats while attempting to manage the situation.
“The shaking was so intense, it felt like the plane had dropped suddenly. I’ve flown many times, but this was truly frightening,” said Abhay Kumar Bharti, one of the passengers.
The pilot acted swiftly to stabilise the aircraft. Within minutes, the turbulence subsided, and the crew helped passengers secure their seatbelts. The pilot later issued an apology for the disruption and discomfort caused by the turbulence.
The flight landed safely at Patna Airport at 4:10 pm. No major injuries were reported, though several passengers described the experience as harrowing.
