This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-39771637
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Turbulence injures 27 on Aeroflot flight to Bangkok | Turbulence injures 27 on Aeroflot flight to Bangkok |
(about 4 hours later) | |
At least 27 people were hurt when an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Bangkok hit a patch of severe turbulence. | |
No injuries were life-threatening, but several passengers suffered broken bones and three needed surgery, Russian officials said. | No injuries were life-threatening, but several passengers suffered broken bones and three needed surgery, Russian officials said. |
A passenger described being "hurled" up to the ceiling, trying to cling on amid shaking which "wouldn't stop". | A passenger described being "hurled" up to the ceiling, trying to cling on amid shaking which "wouldn't stop". |
The turbulence occurred in clear skies, which meant the crew were not able to warn passengers, the airline said. | The turbulence occurred in clear skies, which meant the crew were not able to warn passengers, the airline said. |
"The reasons behind the injures were that some of the passengers had not had their seatbelts fastened," Aeroflot said in a statement. | "The reasons behind the injures were that some of the passengers had not had their seatbelts fastened," Aeroflot said in a statement. |
'Impossible to predict' | |
Mobile phone footage of the aftermath of the incident showed injured people lying in the aisles, with packets of food and other items scattered on the floor. | Mobile phone footage of the aftermath of the incident showed injured people lying in the aisles, with packets of food and other items scattered on the floor. |
"We were hurled up into the roof of the plane, it was practically impossible to hold on," a passenger who gave her first name as Yevgenia told Rossiya 24 by phone. | |
"It felt like the shaking wouldn't stop, that we would just crash," she added. | "It felt like the shaking wouldn't stop, that we would just crash," she added. |
The pilot, Aleksandr Ruzov, said the turbulence was "impossible to predict", in an interview with the Russia 24 news channel. | |
He said the worst effects were felt at the back of the plane. | |
What is Clear Air Turbulence? | What is Clear Air Turbulence? |
CAT - clear air turbulence - is turbulence that occurs in otherwise calm, clear blue skies, without any visual indication such as clouds. | CAT - clear air turbulence - is turbulence that occurs in otherwise calm, clear blue skies, without any visual indication such as clouds. |
It is caused when masses of air moving at different speeds meet, and can't be identified by the naked eye or conventional radar. | |
Pilots use reports from other aircraft, passed on via air traffic control, to keep track of patches of clear air turbulence. | Pilots use reports from other aircraft, passed on via air traffic control, to keep track of patches of clear air turbulence. |
Why is in-flight turbulence so unpredictable? | Why is in-flight turbulence so unpredictable? |
Atlantic turbulence 'to hit flights', climate scientists say | Atlantic turbulence 'to hit flights', climate scientists say |
The incident took place about 40 minutes before the Boeing 777 carrying 313 passengers was due to land in Bangkok. | |
Twenty-four of those injured were Russians while the other three were Thai, the Russian embassy in Thailand said. | Twenty-four of those injured were Russians while the other three were Thai, the Russian embassy in Thailand said. |
Fifteen people, including one child, were admitted to hospitals in Bangkok, a health ministry spokesman told the Russian news agency Interfax. | Fifteen people, including one child, were admitted to hospitals in Bangkok, a health ministry spokesman told the Russian news agency Interfax. |
Three people needed surgery, two for multiple leg fractures and one for broken ribs, he said. | Three people needed surgery, two for multiple leg fractures and one for broken ribs, he said. |
By early evening on Monday, 14 passengers remained in hospital, according to Aeroflot, which has said it will pay the medical costs of the injured. | |
The airline said the pilot's experience amounted to more than 23,000 flight hours and that about 750 cases of clear-air turbulence are recorded in civil aviation every year. |
Previous version
1
Next version