TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1309 times:
Passengers injured as plane hits turbulence
01.05.2002 10.58 pm
A United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco tonight made an emergency detour to Auckland after the aircraft hit severe turbulence, injuring several passengers.
Initial reports said up to seven said passengers and crew had suffered broken bones and one had a head injury.
Crew treated some of those injured on board, while the captain made a decision to turn back to Auckland.
Four ambulances were at Auckland Airport to assess the passengers when flight UA 862 landed in Auckland about 11 pm.
Middlemore hospital was alerted to expect those with the most serious injuries.
The aircraft was carrying 269 passengers and 21 crew, a United Airlines representative said.
The 747-400 aircraft struck "clear air" turbulence about four hours into its flight.
The flight left Sydney at 3.35pm(NZ time)and turned back to New Zealand from skies above Tonga about 7.35pm.
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 3, posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1153 times:
V Jet > Maybe these "stupid" injured people were actually F/A's serving or pax going to the toilet or standing up to let other thru, normal on a 13 hr flight when the seatbelt sign is off. Or do you have inside info about what these passengers were doing?
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1507 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1138 times:
Oh come off it, you see it all the time! As soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off, all you can hear around the palne is the sound of the belt buckles being undone, despite the fact that the F/A's/pilots recommend you keep them done up.
Stretch 8 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 2561 posts, RR: 19 Reply 5, posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1119 times:
Anyone who experiences "clear air" or other severe turbulence gets religion very quickly. I very much doubt that anyone who was on that flight will ever again casually unlock a seatbealt while seated aa altitude.
I experienced "clear air" severe chop a few years ago over the Atlantic. Not much fun; but the worst part was the poor scared fools who started screaming and crying (I am talikg about adults, too).
Maggs swings, it's a drive deep to left! The Tigers are going to the World Series!!!
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
I've never experienced clear air turbulence but have read and heard enough to know that it's pretty bad.
I really don't see the big deal in simply leaving one's seatbelt buckled while in one's seat. It doesn't really get that much in the way does it? I agree it may take a little time to get accustomed to but not more than say an hour. I've always thought that if there's one thing that will physically save your life on a plane, it's your seatbelt.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1042 times:
'Earthquake in the air' causes chaos on jumbo
02.05.2002
By AINSLEY THOMSON
A crew member was knocked unconscious and several passengers injured when a United Airlines jumbo hit severe turbulence over the Pacific last night.
The aircraft made an emergency detour to Auckland, and landed about 11pm.
Flight UA 862 from Sydney to San Francisco was four hours into its journey when it hit "clear air " turbulence.
Passenger Julie Greenwood, from San Francisco, said the turbulence lasted about 30 seconds.
"It was like an earthquake in the air. I was lifted out of my chair twice."
The incident was terrifying, especially when her 18 month old daughter Stella briefly passed out.
Mary Brander, 77, from Sydney, said she was lucky to be sitting down when the aircraft rocked violently.
"It was so unexpected, the bottom seemed to be falling out of the plane. One minute we were in clear blue sky and it hit."
The worst injured were at the rear of the plane. They included a flight attendant and a person who was in a toilet.
Julie Greenwood said a female attendant was knocked out and badly injured when she was pinned under a food trolley.
She suffered leg fractures and was admitted, with three passengers and another crew member, to Middlemore Hospital early today.
The others had minor injuries, including cuts and bruises.
Crew, helped by three doctors and a vet on board the Boeing 747-400, treated some of the injured as the aircraft headed for Auckland.
Four ambulances were at Auckland Airport to assess the passengers when the aircraft landed.
It was carrying 269 passengers and 21 crew.
The flight left Sydney at 3.35pm (NZ time) and turned back about 7.35pm.
The aircraft was over Tonga when the pilot decided to detour to Auckland, the closest large city with medical facilities.
Airline officials said the decision was made for "passenger safety".
The aircraft landed without incident.
Passengers were taken through Auckland Airport and accommodated in hotels overnight. They are expected to continue their journey today.
"Clear air turbulence" occurs when a plane hits a sudden change in air conditions in no cloud, much like a boat hitting a huge wave.
It is sometimes associated with jet streams between Australia and Indonesia.
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1804 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 970 times:
Is 269 a large amount of people for this flight or not? I always assumed that this flight carried more than that.
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
DouglasDC8 From Australia, joined Dec 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (11 years 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 943 times:
"Crew, helped by three doctors and a vet on board the Boeing 747-400"
A vet???? I could just imagine being injured and hearing "Don't worry sir, I'm a vet." I wonder if he recommended that the injured people be put down?
Kaitakfan From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 1585 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (11 years 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 941 times:
That flight is about average. every time I fly that route it seems to be booked somewhere around the likes of 10 in first class, 65 in Business class and nearly 200 in economy. So this flight with 269 had about an average load I would say.
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