Qatar Airways Flight Hits Severe Turbulence: 12 Injured, Incident Under Internal Investigation

Qatar Airways Flight Hits Severe Turbulence Injuring Twelve

Twelve people, including six passengers and six crew members, were injured when a Qatar Airways flight encountered severe turbulence en route from Doha to Dublin. The Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner, flight QR017, was flying over Turkish airspace when it experienced a sudden loss of altitude that caused chaos inside the cabin.

Upon landing safely at Dublin Airport just before 1 p.m. local time, the aircraft was met by emergency services including airport police and firefighters. Eight of the injured were transported to a hospital for further medical attention. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene, with food and belongings scattered throughout the cabin, and flight attendants sustaining visible injuries.

Qatar Airways released a statement shortly after the incident confirming that a small number of passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and the matter is now subject to an internal investigation,' the statement read. This incident follows a similar turbulence-related accident on a Singapore Airlines flight last week, raising concerns about the increasing frequency of such occurrences possibly due to climate change.

Eyewitness Accounts Highlight Harrowing Experience

'A stewardess rose into the air and fell again,' one passenger recounted, emphasizing the severity of the turbulence. Another passenger shared that the turbulence lasted about five seconds but left a profound impact, noting torn clothing and the widespread mess inside the cabin. A woman who was on the flight described the atmosphere as 'panicked,' with passengers and crew visibly shaken by the event.

Another eyewitness mentioned the difference in altitude loss and the chaos that erupted when the plane experienced the turbulence. This ongoing trend of in-flight turbulence, as meteorologists and aviation analysts suggest, might be exacerbated by changing climate conditions, thus affecting flying conditions more frequently.

The Growing Concern of In-Flight Turbulence

The recent increase in in-flight turbulence incidents has spotlighted the ongoing challenges airlines face. Last week's incident on a Singapore Airlines flight, which resulted in injuries to over 100 passengers and the unfortunate death of a British man, underscores these concerns. According to reports, while fatalities related to turbulence are rare, the number of injuries has been steadily increasing.

Meteorologists indicate that climate change might be influencing these trends, making turbulent conditions more common and difficult to predict. The aviation industry continues to investigate and adapt to these changing conditions to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers and crew members.