India, Aug. 5 -- Nearly five minutes of severe turbulence left 17 people injured on board an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday, adding that investigators are analysing the aircraft's flight recorders to determine what caused the incident.

The minister, who visited the injured cabin crew members in hospital, said passengers described a terrifying spell of turbulence lasting around four to five minutes.

'Passengers faced injuries during those five minutes'

"Passengers recalled turbulence lasting for about four to five minutes. It was during that period that they faced the injuries and difficulties inside the aircraft," Naidu said.

"A couple of crew members have spinal injuri...