What: Emirates Airlines Boeing 777-200 en route from Dubai to Kochi India
Where: Bangalore
When: Apr 25th 2010
Who: 350 passengers and 14 crew
Why: Prior to landing at Kochi, the plane encountered severe turbulence which resulted in 20 people being hospitalized. At the time of the turbulence, baggage fell from overhead hatches, and those not belted slammed upward. The flight landed at Kochi and was removed from service for ten hours. All injuries were minor.

Two theories have been presented involving the turbulence. Meteorologists speculate that “the aircraft could have flown into an air pocket.”

Another theory is that “…World Area Forecast centre wind/temperature charts did not reveal thunderstorm cloudd, but it showed a slight wind shear condition off the coast of Mangalore. At 35,000 feet, the chart shows strong westerly wind with a speed of 60 kts dropping to 25-30 kts. It’s one of the indicators of clear air turbulence (CAT).’’

There are reports that say the plane suffered some damage after dropping from 20,000 to 5,000 feet.