A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin faced turbulence on Sunday, resulting in injuries to 12 people, including six crew members. Eight of the injured were hospitalized, while four had minor injuries.
This incident follows a similar one earlier in the week involving a Singapore Airlines flight, which resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries.
Despite the turbulence, the plane landed safely and on time, according to Dublin airport authorities. The Qatar Airways flight QR017, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, touched down at 1 PM Dublin time (1200 GMT) on Sunday.
Emergency services, including Airport Police and the Fire and Rescue department, were on site to assist the injured passengers and crew. The turbulence occurred while the plane was flying over Turkey. Flight operations at Dublin Airport remain unaffected and are continuing as scheduled.
12 Injured on Qatar Airways Flight
At least 12 people on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Ireland were injured due to turbulence, according to Dublin Airport via Reuters.
The flight, QR017, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed just before 1 p.m. Dublin time (1200 GMT).
Upon landing, emergency services, including Airport Police and the Fire and Rescue department, attended to the aircraft. Dublin Airport stated that 6 passengers and 6 crew members were injured when the plane experienced turbulence over Turkey.
This incident occurred five days after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence. During that flight, the plane dropped 6,000 feet in five minutes, resulting in the death of a 73-year-old British man and leaving 20 others in intensive care.
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Injuries Reported After Turbulence on Singapore Airlines Flight
An AP report revealed that at least 22 passengers on the flight suffered spinal cord injuries, while six others, including a two-year-old, had brain and skull injuries.
On Saturday, a Bangkok hospital reported that 43 passengers from the Singapore Airlines flight are still hospitalized.
According to a 2021 study by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence-related accidents are the most common type in aviation. From 2009 to 2018, the agency found that turbulence caused over a third of reported airline accidents, leading to serious injuries but no aircraft damage.
Singapore Airlines Flight Chaos
A Singapore Airlines flight with 211 passengers had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence. Tragically, a 73-year-old British man died, and 20 others are in intensive care. The violent shaking caused passengers and crew to suffer serious injuries, including skull, brain, and spine damage.
Images and videos from inside the plane reveal a chaotic scene with food and luggage strewn about and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling.
Singapore’s transport minister stated that investigators are examining the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Flight tracking data indicated the Boeing 777-300ER dropped 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) in minutes, catching many passengers off guard without time to fasten their seatbelts.
Following the incident, Singapore Airlines has strengthened its seatbelt policies and adopted a more cautious approach to turbulence.
According to a 2021 study by the US National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence-related incidents are the most common type of airline accidents. Experts warn that passengers often neglect to wear seatbelts, increasing their risk during sudden turbulence.
The US agency reported that from 2009 to 2018, turbulence accounted for over a third of airline accidents, frequently causing serious injuries but rarely damaging the aircraft.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. What caused the turbulence on the Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines flights?
Ans. Changes in air movement cause turbulence on Qatar Airways, often associated with weather conditions such as storms or jet streams.
Q.2. How many people were injured in the Qatar Airways incident?
Ans. Twelve people were injured in the Qatar Airways incident, including six crew members. Eight of the injured were hospitalized, while four had minor injuries.
Q.3. What actions were taken to assist the injured passengers and crew?
Ans. Emergency services, including Airport Police and the Fire and Rescue department, were on site to assist the injured passengers and crew. They provided medical attention and support as needed.
Q.4. What are the safety measures airlines are implementing after these incidents?
Ans. Airlines are reinforcing safety protocols, including seatbelt policies, and adopting a more cautious approach to turbulence. They may also conduct thorough investigations and review procedures to enhance passenger safety.
Q.5. How common are turbulence-related accidents in aviation?
Ans. Turbulence-related incidents are the most common type of airline accidents. According to the US National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for over a third of reported airline accidents from 2009 to 2018, causing serious injuries but rarely damaging the aircraft.
