SpiceJet Responds After Passenger Claims Mid-Air Free Fall On Delhi–Srinagar Flight

Flight mishaps seem to be on the rise lately, raising concerns over passenger safety and operational standards. Adding to the growing list, a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Srinagar triggered panic on Saturday after it reportedly experienced a sudden mid-air drop while flying over Jammu and Kashmir’s Banihal Pass. A passenger on board captured the moment and shared his thoughts on social media platform X.

Passenger shares harrowing experience on SpiceJet flight SG-385

Arjimand Hussain, a passenger on board SpiceJet flight SG-385 from Delhi to Srinagar, took to social media platform X to share a deeply disturbing account of what he described as one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.

“All my life, I have travelled in all sorts of weathers, across the globe, in hundreds of flights, but have never experienced something like this.”

This flight that he was travelling via, reportedly experienced a sudden mid-air drop. In his post, Arjimand shared how the aircraft dropped several hundred meters in what he described as a “free fall.” He recounted how this wasn’t ordinary turbulence—something he was well familiar with.

“SG-385 Delhi-Srinagar Spicejet flight’s precarious moments yesterday. The plane dropped several hundred meters in free fall over the Banihal Pass. It felt like the end of life for everyone. It was not a normal turbulence. I have experienced all sorts of those.”

The mayhem was so intense that even a crew member was thrown in the cabin, and Arjimand managed to capture the final moments on video.

“I managed to capture only the final few moments of the mayhem, with a crew member having tossed in the cabin.”

He further shared how all window shields had been ordered closed just moments before the incident, leaving passengers clueless about what was unfolding.

“Worst part was all window shields were directed to be closed a few moments back, and no one had any clue what was happening.”

Arjimand also questioned why the seatbelt sign was turned on only after the most turbulent moments had passed.

“Is it new a normal to fly right into storms or something has changed about climate? Why was seat belt warning made once the mayhem was over?”

He raised concerns about the reliability of early weather warnings and the preparedness of flight operations when encountering severe atmospheric conditions.

“Where are early weather warnings and evasive actions? Who would answer?”

Thankfully, the flight landed safely. But Arjimand shared that minor injuries may have occurred to the crew members,

“Mercifully, the plane landed safely, with, possibly, minor injuries to two cabin crew members. I checked on them when we landed, and they said they were okay. But, overall, a traumatising experience.”

Have a look at the viral video of SpiceJet flight

All my life, I have travelled in all sorts of weathers, across the globe, in hundreds of flights, but have never experienced something like this (details in comments) pic.twitter.com/ncaCzSSbng

— Arjimand Hussain (@arjimand) July 13, 2025

SG-385 Delhi-Srinagar Spicejet flight’s precarious moments yesterday. The plane dropped several hundred meters in free fall over the Banihal Pass. It felt like the end of life for everyone. It was not a normal turbulence. I have experienced all sorts of those.

— Arjimand Hussain (@arjimand) July 13, 2025

I managed to capture only the final few moments of the mayhem, with a crew member having tossed in the cabin. Worst part was all window shields were directed to be closed a few moments back, and no one had any clue what was happening.

— Arjimand Hussain (@arjimand) July 13, 2025

SpiceJet denies mid-air ‘free fall’ on Delhi-Srinagar flight

Despite a viral social media post by passenger Arjimand Hussain, who described a terrifying mid-air drop on SpiceJet flight SG-385 from Delhi to Srinagar, the airline has refuted the claim. In an official statement, SpiceJet said,

“The July 12 flight encountered a brief patch of turbulence due to prevailing monsoon weather conditions. At no point did the aircraft ‘plunge,’ nor did any crew member sustain any injury. The flight landed safely in Srinagar.”

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The airline further explained that the turbulence occurred during the aircraft’s descent. The statement added,

“The seat belt sign was on, and the flight crew had made announcements instructing passengers to remain seated and fasten their seat belts.”

SpiceJet emphasized that there were no reported injuries and no emergency actions taken, and the flight arrived in Srinagar as scheduled.

As of now, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not commented on the incident, leaving the public to weigh the contrasting versions of events—one from a shaken passenger and the other from the airline insisting that standard turbulence was misinterpreted.

What are your thoughts after having a look at the video shared by the passenger? Do share via the comments below.