Hi,
Has anyone heard anything about this incident…??
At least 11 plane passengers have been injured – some suffering broken necks – after a China Airlines flight was hit by turbulence.
One of the injured plane passengers
The Boeing 747-400, carrying 338 passengers and 19 crew, was rocked by turbulence about 30 minutes before landing at Bali’s international airport in in Denpasar.
Rustam Pakaya, the head of Indonesia’s health ministry in Jakarta, said: “At least 11 people were injured including six who are seriously injured.”
The injuries included broken necks and other fractures, the health ministry added.
Doctor Guning Atmajaya, who treated many of the hurt passengers at the Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, said all those injured were Chinese.
“Six of them needed special medical treatment as they suffered from serious broken bones,” he told China’s Xinhua news agency.
The plane was travelling from Taipei to the Indonesian resort island when the incident happened.
Cheers
Rick
By: JetSet - 1st October 2008 at 11:49
Is it just coincidence of does turbulance always seem to rear it’s head just after that nice stewardess passes you that burning red hot cup of coffee? Has happened to me on every single flight I’ve been on:o
By: old shape - 30th September 2008 at 20:40
I think the worst turbulence I can recall was on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt (I think) to LHR, about 5-6 years ago
The plane was all over the place & it was rather frightening. It was not just relatively severe, but sustained – 30-45 minutes. Seat belt sign was on most of the flight.
I fly at least twice (2 return trips) a year & have done so for over 15 years so I have a fair amount of experience (but obviously not as much as many on this forum). I hate turbulence.
So do I. Because I know how cr*p some A/c are built. Even worse, how badly some are maintained. Thankfully these are in the tiniest minority, but one mistake leads to deaths in the 10’s of 10’s ore more.
I also know that the a/c can flex a lot, on the A310 rig I saw the wing being twanged until the tip was vertical. It didn’t snap (On that day) but I believe they were running it to the absolute loads.
By: LERX - 30th September 2008 at 20:24
I think the worst turbulence I can recall was on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt (I think) to LHR, about 5-6 years ago
The plane was all over the place & it was rather frightening. It was not just relatively severe, but sustained – 30-45 minutes. Seat belt sign was on most of the flight.
I fly at least twice (2 return trips) a year & have done so for over 15 years so I have a fair amount of experience (but obviously not as much as many on this forum). I hate turbulence.
By: old shape - 24th September 2008 at 11:37
Serious turbulence is a feature of that part of the world, as there are active volcanoes.
Many years ago, a JAL 747 broke up with all passengers lost over Mount Fuji (I think). From past experience, turbulence hits you all of a sudden.
Incidentally, SAS recommend keeping seat belts fastened all the time you are in your seat.
Bri
Every flight I’ve been on for the past 10 years has had this advice.
Worst turbulance I’ve suffered was on the ATP from Warton to Farnborough one winter. The machine plummeted at such a rate, loose items (Including my hot coffee) went about 18 inches in the air, followed by the usual wrestle on the controls and a few severe bankings. We then twanged down the runway after a yaw landing of what seemed like 45 degrees (It wasn’t 45, but I could see the runway ahead from my seat over the wing).
Back to the event, the acceleration involved in such jerky movements can easily break a neck. The Airbus that lost its fin due to over active rudder movement (New York 2001) had such violent acceleration that many of the pax (Those furthest away from the turning moment) were dead before impact.
Only take your belt off if you need the washroom.
By: Steakandkidney - 24th September 2008 at 11:11
Some five years ago we flew to the Domincan Republic. About 2 hours out from Punta Cana we experienced incredible turbulence the likes of which I do not ever want to experience again. Basically the aircraft kept shaking then dropped like a stone for a few seconds and then just as it recovered did it again and again for what seemed an eternity. Even the cabin crew had white faces and some passengers were physically sick.
We found out on arriving that we flew over the remnants of Hurricane Ivan!
Serious Scary stuff.
By: Speedy - 22nd September 2008 at 10:59
I have twice been on flights where there was no significant turbulence, but a sudden, very nasty bump occured. The first time there were injuries aboard too, and I didn’t know what caused it, cos the rest of the flight was smooth. A few weeks ago we went through a huge bump. This time I knew what it was…. wake.. we had just gone through a contrail. When all around is calm, some people DO take their seatbelts off. I just slacken mine. I imagine pilots try to avoid contrails and wakes, but this last one was visible even to me, well before we hit it.
By: bri - 22nd September 2008 at 10:43
Serious turbulence is a feature of that part of the world, as there are active volcanoes.
Many years ago, a JAL 747 broke up with all passengers lost over Mount Fuji (I think). From past experience, turbulence hits you all of a sudden.
Incidentally, SAS recommend keeping seat belts fastened all the time you are in your seat.
Bri
By: OneLeft - 22nd September 2008 at 10:21
they cant have been wearing their seat-belt,
Correct.
which I assume at 30mins prior to landing would have been turned on already for decent?
Not necessarily, this varies from airline to airline. I can’t speak for others but we usually have the signs on 10 minutes before landing on shorthaul flights, 25 minutes on lounghaul.
1L.
By: cloud_9 - 22nd September 2008 at 07:40
Hi,
Has anyone heard anything about this incident…??
Cheers
Rick
Surely if someone suffered a broken neck, they cant have been wearing their seat-belt, which I assume at 30mins prior to landing would have been turned on already for decent?
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September 21, 2008 at 8:03 pm