DUBAI - Twenty passengers and three crew were injured when an Emirates flight lost altitude abruptly after hitting turbulence on Sunday , with an Indian newspaper putting the terrifying midair plunge at some 15,000 feet.

The incident is being described by some media outlets as a narrow escape from an aviation disaster.

Emirates said in a statement the flight from Dubai to Kochi "encountered a short period of heavy turbulence while cruising at 35,000 feet".

The Dubai-based airline said the aircraft experienced a 200-foot descent in altitude.

The Times of India reported the aircraft dropped from 20,000 feet to 5,000 feet before the pilot was able to regain control of the aircraft, citing an unnamed official.

"There were 350 passengers on board the flight, 20 of whom suffered minor injuries. The flight landed safely in Kochi and the captain requested medical support to meet the aircraft," Emirates said.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said three crew were also injured, adding that all injuries were classified as 'minor' (sprains, bumps and bruises).

All passengers have now been discharged from hospital in Kochi, the authority said. A child was among those injured, the Times reported.

Emirates said the fasten seatbelt sign was put on prior to the turbulence.

Describing the moment the aircraft plunged from the sky, one passenger told the Times: "Oxygen masks fell down. We all got scared. This is a re-birth. Many passengers fell down from their seats."

Most of the passengers were in a "state of shock and looked worried", the Times said, citing sources.

It is thought the sharp fall in altitude was caused when the aircraft flew through an air pocket, an upward or downward air current that is one of the main causes of in-flight turbulence.

In extreme cases, known as downbursts, an air pocket can cause an aircraft to lose altitude abruptly, which has been responsible for a number of air disasters in the past.

The GCAA said it was coordinating with Emirates and its Indian counterpart to investigate the cause of the incident, which it described as "severe turbulence". - Maktoob