The flight from Phuket to Delhi, which encountered sudden turbulence, actually reached minus-1G for a total of 10 secondsThis occurs when a flight rapidly descends.
Updated: August 12, 2026, 10:45 AM IST
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Phuket-Delhi Flight: Pilots were floating in air in cockpit as it went into minus gravity, what is minus 1G? Explained (File)
On August 4, an Air India flight from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi went into minus gravityThe pilots were flying in the cockpit, passengers’ heads were banging against the ceiling, and bags seemed to floatFor a brief moment, the plane lost controlThe pilot regained control and, using extra thrust, pulled the flight out of the predicamentBy the time the plane regained control of its speed and altitude, it had lost 300 feet of altitude.
There were a total of 145 people on board the flight at the time: 137 passengers and 8 crew membersThe events between the plane’s entry into and exit from minus gravity injured 20 passengers and 4 crew membersSome of these crew members also suffered spinal and neck injuriesHowever, the plane later landed safely in DelhiA second post-flight psychoactive substance test revealed that one of the pilots had smoked marijuanaBoth pilots have been removed from the roster.
What happened that day?
According to information revealed so far in the investigation into the Delhi-bound flight, the flight suddenly received a stall warningThis is a warning that indicates the flight’s wings are unable to liftImmediately afterward, the autopilot disconnectedSources claim that the first officer was flying the plane at the timeAs part of the stall recovery procedure, the pilot sharply lowered the nose of the planeDuring this, the plane descended so rapidly that it reached minus 1G.
This caused the pilots in the cockpit to levitate, practically floating in the airLuggage also appeared to float in the airWithin seconds, the pilots regained control and stabilized the plane by applying continuous thrustThe plane plummeted 300 feet during this processBy the time the pilots regained control, the situation in the cockpit was the same as in the plane itself, causing passengers to hit their heads against the ceiling, and the crew also suffered injuries.
When an airplane is in the sky, its gravity is 1GThis means we feel the same gravity as on EarthThis occurs when the plane is moving straight, neither descending nor ascending rapidlyIn this situation, you remain seated normally in your seatThis is followed by zero gravity, which astronauts experience in space and float in the airHowever, the flight from Phuket to Delhi went into minus gravity, meaning below zero gravityWhen such a situation arises, a person feels themselves moving in the opposite direction of gravityThat is why, when the plane rapidly descended, passengers who were not wearing seat belts were lifted out of their seats and hit the roof of the plane.
What is a stall, which causes a plane to reach -1G?
The flight that day suddenly experienced a stall warningThis warning indicates that the wings are not providing adequate liftThis can occur if the plane’s speed decreases or the nose is raised too highWhen this happens, the wings stop providing lift, and the flight begins to lose altitudeThis is like a warning alarm.
To control this, pilots lower the nose of the plane, increase engine thrust, and position the wings to receive sufficient airBy the time they regain control, the plane may have fallen several feet in the airWhen this happens, the plane’s gravity goes into negative territoryBecause the plane suddenly drops, the body remains at its original speed, which is why it rises in the opposite direction.
Why is minus 1G dangerous?
Under normal conditions, 1G gravity causes blood circulation to the legsThe heart must work continuously to supply blood to the brainWhen conditions reach -1G, blood circulation shifts from the legs to the headThe heart is already pumping blood to the headThis increases pressure on the eyesThis can lead to vision problems or headachesIf this persists for a long time, it can even lead to fainting.
Other technical problems with the plane
It’s currently unclear how the stall warning occurred, but it’s being claimed that the plane also had some technical flawsAccording to engineering records, low pressure signals were first recorded in the green hydraulic system, then in the blue and yellow systems, and then in all three hydraulic systemsThese three hydraulic systems operate the plane’s radar, elevator, landing gear, brakes, and other systemsLow pressure means that pressure was decreasing in these systems.
If one system malfunctions, the other acts as an automatic backupA problem with all three is considered seriousFurthermore, the autopilot was disconnected due to the stallAn investigation is underway to determine whether these technical issues caused the sudden nose lift, triggering the stall warning, or whether the cause was human errorThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has classified this as a serious incidentThe Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AACC) is investigating the matter.
