- 17 passengers were injured due to turbulence on an Air India flight from Phuket has spawned a litany of complaints on social media.
- Social media users demanded accountability, with one post urging the DGCA to establish whether weather intelligence, seat-belt protocols and crew response were adequate and to publish its findings.
- Critics on social media made extreme comments, including calls to rebrand Air India as Tata Air , and accusations of poor maintenance and profit-hungry corporate behavior.
- A video by digital creator Ansh Mehra claimed the Air India plane lost 300 feet in altitude and criticized passengers for not wearing seat belts even when the sign is on.
- Former Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor advised that those most seriously hurt are often passengers not wearing seat belts, and stressed the importance of following the Fasten Seat Belt sign and crew instructions.
- Aviation scientist Venu Ganapuram explained that turbulence occurs due to differences in air pressure, and that pilots are informed of known weather conditions before a journey, but unpredictable turbulence can still occur.
- Despite the science, social media warriors posted extreme remarks such as You should thank the god, otherwise its next to impossible to come out of Air India alive and A roadways bus is safer than Air India .
- In a video of the incident posted on Instagram, comments included Air India maut ka kuva (well of death) , boycott India , If its Boeing, Im not going , and Air india use way too old flights .
Seventeen passengers were injured on an Air India flight from Phuket due to severe turbulence, leading to a surge of criticism and misinformation on social media. Users accused the airline of poor safety standards and called for accountability, while experts highlighted the unpredictable nature of turbulence.1
Aviation scientist Venu Ganapuram explained that turbulence can arise from variations in air pressure and dynamic air movements. He stated, "For a flight to be stable, it is important that the distribution of air pressure in a region is uniform. Differences in air pressure locally can cause air turbulence." He noted that while pilots are informed of potential weather conditions, "sometimes it is not in the control of pilots also. Dynamic changes may emerge and an unpredictable level of turbulence can occur suddenly during a flight."7
Social media reactions included calls for a boycott of Air India, with one user stating, "Air India may call it a 'brief turbulence-related event'. For those onboard, it was anything but brief." Another criticized the airline's maintenance, saying, "Poorly maintained piece of garbage flying in the air." However, experts argue that modern aircraft can handle severe weather, and turbulence is often difficult to predict.
Former Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor emphasized the importance of seat belt compliance, stating, "Those most seriously hurt are often passengers not wearing seat belts... whenever the Fasten Seat Belt sign is ON put your seat belts." The incident has reignited discussions about Air India's safety record and operational standards, with many calling for a reassessment of its management and practices.6
“Digital creator Ansh Mehra's video, claiming the plane lost 300 feet in altitude, has garnered over four lakh views. Former Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor stressed that those most seriously hurt are often passengers not wearing seat belts, urging adherence to the Fasten Seat Belt sign.”
