# Rising turbulence incidents fuel India passenger anxieties 2026-08-07T06:00:23+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi lost nearly 300 feet over Odisha this week, injuring four crew and over a dozen passengers. The incident has put turbulence safety in focus as India adds millions of first-time flyers. Aviation experts stress that passengers should keep seat belts fastened even when the sign is off, as clear-air turbulence can strike without warning at cruising altitude. India faces two forms of turbulence: convective turbulence linked to thunderstorms (common in Odisha and Jharkhand from April to June) and clear-air turbulence near jet streams that radar cannot detect. The Economic Times reports that global incidents are rising, with severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight in 2024 causing one death and 80 injuries, while US carriers recorded over 200 serious turbulence injuries between 2009 and 2024. ## Coverage - thehindu.com - economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: air travel, aviation safety, fear of flying, mental health Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/why-recent-plane-incidents-are-fueling-fear-of-flying/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/why-recent-plane-incidents-are-fueling-fear-of-flying/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.