NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, turbulence in midair caused at least seven passengers on board Air India's Delhi-Sydney flight, AI 302, to sustain minor injuries.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-800, faced mid-flight turbulence, which led to these passengers complaining of a slight sprain, according to sources at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
No hospitalisation was necessary, according to a DGCA official. Severe turbulence was experienced by the Air India B787-800 aircraft VT-ANY as it was operating flight AI-302 from Delhi to Sydney.“During the flight seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse traveling as passengers, using an onboard first aid kit,” the official said.
The injured were given first aid by the Air India cabin staff with the help of a doctor and nurse who were also on board the trip as passengers.
Only three passengers used the medical aid that was arranged by Air India's airport manager after the early-morning Wednesday flight landed in Sydney.
According to a representative for Air India,“Air India’s flight AI 302 of May 16, 2023, operating from Delhi to Sydney encountered turbulence mid-air leading to discomfort to the passengers on board. The flight landed safely in Sydney and three passengers availed medical assistance on arrival, none of whom required hospitalisation. This onboard incident has been reported to the relevant authorities as a standard practice.”
The DGCA is carrying out a probe into the occurrence.
This is the second instance of serious turbulence that has wounded people on a flight in the past two years.
A Mumbai-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight with 195 passengers experienced extreme turbulence on May 1, 2022, which resulted in numerous injuries to the passengers. One of the passengers, who was seriously hurt, died after receiving extensive medical care.
A passenger on board Air-India aircraft AI 630 from Nagpur to Mumbai was stung by a scorpion earlier this month. Although live birds and rats have been discovered on board before, it is unusual for a passenger to be stung by a scorpion.
After landing, the aforementioned passenger was attended by a doctor at the airport, received treatment at the hospital, and was then released.”Our team followed the protocol and conducted a complete inspection of the aircraft and found the scorpion after which due fumigation process was carried out. We sincerely regret the agony and inconvenience caused to the passenger,” Air India said.
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