PTI and other agencies
  
Jeddah, Oct 16: At least 14 passengers of Air India's Jeddah-bound flight from Mumbai via Hyderabad suffered injuries when the aircraft hit a major air turbulence. The Air India flight-865 lost height by nearly 5,000 feet after it hit the air turbulence due to bad weather on Sunday evening, the airline said in a statement in New Delhi on Monday.

On landing at Jeddah at 22.40 hrs local time, the injured underwent a thorough check-up by doctors at the airport, it said.

One passenger, suspected to have suffered a minor fracture, is recovering at a local hospital and is expected to be discharged soon, it added.

There were 70 passengers on board, the airline said.
 
The flight had taken off from the Jeddah Airport at 0000 hrs (IST) for Hyderabad, Air India officials said.

This is the second such instance involving an Air India plane in the last week.

On last Thursday Air India’s plane, Boeing 747-400, with 434 passengers on board was grounded after 20 minutes of its taking off from the Heathrow Airport, after it reported a bird hit.

The plane New York- London-New Delhi-Mumbai bound flight took the passengers two days to reach India.