An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude on August 4, leaving 13 passengers and four crew members injured and requiring medical attention after landing. The Airbus A320, operating as AI2379 with 145 people on board, encountered severe turbulence during its journey, causing passengers who were not securely strapped in to be thrown from their seats and cabin crew to lose their footing.
The aircraft eventually landed safely in Delhi. The incident is now being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) after being classified as a “serious incident”, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both pilots off the roster pending the investigation. Amid the probe, a flyer has reportedly claimed that the captain appeared to be “walking strangely” after the flight, adding another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the incident.
However, such an observation by a passenger does not establish the reason for the pilot’s behaviour or the cause of the altitude loss. The Civil Aviation Ministry has said an initial psychoactive-substance screening of the captain was “not negative” and has been sent for confirmatory testing. Air India, meanwhile, said post-flight screening was conducted according to applicable protocols but that the results had not been shared with the airline.
Passenger Recounts Strange Behaviour
The turbulence-hit flight has drawn renewed attention after a passenger reportedly described noticing unusual behaviour from the captain after the aircraft landed in Delhi. According to the flyer’s account, the pilot appeared to be walking strangely, an observation that has since circulated amid questions about what happened during and immediately after the flight, a passenger said in an ANI video.
Such first-hand accounts can help investigators understand the sequence of events, but they need to be considered alongside cockpit data, medical examinations, aircraft records and statements from the crew rather than treated as conclusive evidence. The flight itself had a particularly violent encounter with turbulence. Reports said the aircraft suddenly dropped by approximately 300 feet, sending some passengers into the air and causing injuries when they struck overhead fixtures or other parts of the cabin. Four crew members were also among those who required medical attention.
The aircraft remained operational and landed in Delhi, where medical teams and ambulances were available to receive those affected.
What Has Happened So Far
The incident occurred on August 4 while AI2379 was travelling from Phuket to Delhi. The AAIB is examining the circumstances surrounding the sudden altitude loss, while the DGCA has temporarily removed both pilots from flight duties as the investigation continues.
The government has also clarified that the captain’s initial screening for psychoactive substances was “not negative”, with the sample now undergoing confirmatory testing. Importantly, this is not a confirmed finding, and authorities have not publicly identified any substance. Air India said it was aware that post-flight screening had been carried out in accordance with established procedures but that the test results had not been provided to the airline, leaving it unable to comment on the findings. The incident has also prompted wider discussion about turbulence preparedness and passenger safety. Aviation safety guidance consistently stresses the importance of keeping seat belts fastened while seated because severe turbulence can occur unexpectedly.
The injuries on AI2379 highlight how quickly an otherwise routine journey can become dangerous, particularly for passengers who are standing, moving around the cabin or not wearing their seat belts when sudden turbulence strikes. At the same time, determining why the aircraft lost altitude and whether any operational or technical factors contributed remains the responsibility of the ongoing investigation rather than speculation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Air travel depends on an extraordinary level of trust: passengers place their safety in the hands of pilots, cabin crew, airlines, regulators and aircraft systems, often without knowing what is happening beyond the cabin doors. That makes transparency and careful investigation especially important whenever an incident raises questions about safety. At the same time, public discussion should distinguish between an eyewitness account, an initial screening result and an established fact.
A passenger saying that a pilot appeared to be walking strangely may be relevant to investigators, but it should not become a verdict before the evidence is examined. Similarly, an initial test that requires confirmation should not be presented as a final finding. The priority now should be a transparent, evidence-based investigation that answers what caused the sudden altitude loss, whether safety procedures were followed and what can be done to prevent similar incidents.
Passengers deserve answers, crew members deserve due process, and the wider flying public deserves confidence that safety concerns will be addressed without rushing to judgement. How can aviation authorities balance complete transparency with fairness while investigating incidents that understandably leave passengers worried?\
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🚨Shocking claims by a passenger on board the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight ✈️#AI2379.
— Karan Singh / करन सिंह (@Journo_Karan) August 10, 2026
Flyer says the pilot's gait did not seem right pic.twitter.com/vuS80xUiHM
