2 Air India planes hit by turbulence damaged, cabin crew injured

www.mangaloretoday.com

Thiruvanathanpuram, Sept 22, 2019: Two Air India planes were struck by intense turbulence this week, damaging the aircraft and in one case, injuring the cabin crew. An Air India plane from Delhi to Thiruvanathanpuram, via Kochi with 172 passengers on board was hit by the turbulence on Friday, news agency PTI reported.

While none of the passengers were injured and the plane landed safely, the aircraft suffered damages, an official said. The incident was reported to the airline’s safety department, which launched a detailed investigation, he said.

"Air India’s flight AI 048 hit air turbulence when it was on the way from Kochi to Trivandrum. Though no injury has been reported, the A321 aircraft suffered minor damages. It was grounded immediately after landing for inspection. Due to this, the return flight was delayed by nearly four hours," the official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Another Air India plane from Delhi to Vijayawada encountered turbulence on September 17. The Airbus A320 aircraft, caught in a thunderstorm, suffered damages while the cabin crew sustained injured, news agency ANI reported.

Photos on social media reveal the extent of the damage to the plane. In one of the photos, crew members can be seen being examined, while in another, food trays are seen scattered all over the aisle.

Air India has started the investigation in the matter, ANI reported.