Two individuals on a British Airways flight sustained fractured ankles following turbulence on a journey bound for London. An investigation revealed that both a passenger and a cabin crew member suffered serious leg injuries approximately 20 minutes after the seatbelt signs were activated during the flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on December 6, 2024.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch disclosed that the turbulence, lasting between 10 to 15 seconds, was perceived as mild to moderate by the captain. The injured passenger recounted experiencing a sudden upward and sideways movement of the aircraft while returning to his seat after using the restroom, resulting in a broken ankle. He mentioned being asleep and unaware of the activated seatbelt signs. The injured crew member was in the process of securing her seat when the turbulence lifted her, causing a fall and a broken ankle. Both individuals received immediate treatment from other crew members and two passengers who were physicians. Subsequently, another passenger fell ill and lost consciousness.
The incident occurred above the Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland. Although the captain contemplated diverting to airports in Canada or Iceland, he deemed them unsuitable and opted to continue to Heathrow where ambulances awaited the Airbus A380 aircraft to transport the three casualties to the hospital.
It is mandatory for passengers to fasten their seatbelts when instructed. The captain of the British Airways flight activated the seatbelt signs in anticipation of the turbulence after monitoring weather conditions using a live app on his tablet.
The AAIB concluded that more passengers could have been affected if the precautionary measures had not been taken. A British Airways spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety, highlighting the training of their skilled pilots and cabin crew to handle such rare events.
Tragically, Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, passed away due to a suspected heart attack while onboard a Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence on May 21, 2024. Seven others sustained serious injuries, and numerous passengers suffered minor injuries on the flight from Heathrow to Singapore. Witnesses described a dramatic drop in the Boeing 777 aircraft, causing unbelted passengers to be propelled into the ceiling.
Post-incident images depicted damage to the cabin ceiling with scattered food, cutlery, and debris on the floor.