Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop (Buckle Up NOW!)
Recent plane incidents involving severe turbulence highlight the dangers of clear-air turbulence (CAT), an unpredictable weather phenomenon. Passengers are advised to stay buckled for safety, while airlines implement stricter seatbelt protocols and scientists seek ways to detect CAT in advance.
CONTENTS: Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop
Air Europa flight hits rough air, injuries reported
Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop
On Tuesday, an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo encountered severe clear-air turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean. The incident caused the plane to rapidly descend 1,600 feet in just eight seconds. One passenger was thrown into an overhead compartment meant for luggage, prompting others to assist in returning him to his seat amid scenes of chaos.
Additionally, around 30 passengers sustained injuries including cracked ribs, broken bones, and bruises as a result of the turbulence.
Turbulence dangers rise, climate link suspected
Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop: The recent events aboard the Air Europa flight echoed a similar incident in May on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 321, which encountered severe clear-air turbulence over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta.
Lasting for 62 seconds, the turbulence caused the aircraft to sharply buck up and down, descending from 37,400 feet to 37,000 feet and beyond, creating negative G-forces that ejected unrestrained passengers from their seats.
Tragically, one person died, and many others were seriously injured in the incident. These occurrences have heightened concerns within the aviation industry about the increasing likelihood of clear-air turbulence incidents due to climate change and rising global temperatures. Veteran pilot Captain Shakti Lumba has highlighted forecasts indicating a dramatic rise in such incidents.
Turbulence danger: Injuries, deaths reported
Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop: In May 2022, severe turbulence on a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Durgapur resulted in injuries to 14 passengers and three cabin crew members. Akbar Ansari, one of the injured passengers, suffered a spinal fracture when his seatbelt broke during the turbulence, leading to his death in October of the same year, as reported by his brother.
In 1980, an Indian Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence over Rampurhat in Bengal, resulting in the deaths of two out of 132 people on board, according to PTI. Bloomberg reports indicate that flights to Tokyo, Milan, and Chile, including the Delhi-Tokyo route, are among the most turbulent in the world.
Clear-air turbulence: Unpredictable, protocols followed
Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop: Air Vice Marshal (retd) Gurpershad Sharma, formerly head of the Indian Air Force’s meteorological wing and now president of Skymet Weather, emphasizes the unpredictable nature of clear-air turbulence (CAT), stating that it leaves no identifiable signs and cannot be predicted beforehand.
According to Sharma, CAT is a spontaneous weather phenomenon that can occur anywhere, characterized by dynamic and shifting turbulent patches.
In response to encountering CAT, pilots adhere to established protocols. They communicate with nearby aircraft and promptly report incidents to the nearest control tower.
Buckle up for unpredictable CAT
Turbulence Terror! 14 Passengers Injured in 8-Second Drop: Experienced aviators stress that the primary precaution passengers can take against clear-air turbulence (CAT) is to remain securely buckled up even after the seatbelt signs are switched off.
In response to the unpredictability of CAT, Singapore Airlines has implemented new safety measures, including suspending meal and hot beverage services when the seatbelt sign is on, and requiring crew members to remain strapped in during these periods.
Pilots note that CAT occurs more frequently over oceanic routes and has been relatively rare over the Indian landmass, with India reporting only five incidents since 2011. In comparison, the US recorded 132 incidents and Japan had 27 during the same period. CAT incidents are most commonly observed between 30 degrees and 45 degrees north and south of the equator.
Efforts within the aviation industry and scientific community are focused on developing LIDAR (light airborne laser radar) technology capable of detecting CAT. Current LIDAR systems, however, are too large to be installed on commercial aircraft.
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