Emirates plane drops 15,000 feet over India, 17 hurt
Sun, Apr 25 2010
Passengers suffered bruises and other minor wounds.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India - A passenger plane flying from Dubai to India plunged 15,000 feet (4,600 metres) after hitting air turbulence Sunday, injuring 17 people, aviation officials said.
The Emirates Boeing 777 jet with 361 passengers and 14 crew on board landed safely at its destination of Kochi in south India shortly after the incident, which occurred off the coastal state of Goa.
"In a short period of bad turbulence, some passengers suffered bruises and other minor wounds. They were given medical care at the airport on their arrival," an airline official in Kochi, who declined to be named, told AFP.
"Some passengers who were not wearing seat belts were thrown out of their seats, but the pilot regained control," he said.
Reports said the plane suffered some damage after dropping from 20,000 to just 5,000 feet in a few minutes.