Two individuals aboard a British Airways transatlantic flight sustained serious leg injuries when the aircraft encountered unexpected turbulence, an official air safety investigation has concluded.
Details of the Turbulence Incident
The event occurred on December 6, 2024, on a flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow. According to the report by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the turbulence lasted for 10-15 seconds and was described by the captain as feeling "light to moderate". It struck the Airbus A380 while it was flying over the Atlantic Ocean, to the south of Greenland.
The captain had proactively switched on the seatbelt signs after monitoring a live weather application on his tablet. However, the incident happened approximately 20 minutes after the warnings were activated.
How the Injuries Occurred
The AAIB report detailed the moments leading to the injuries. One passenger was returning to his seat after using the lavatory when the aircraft made a "sudden movement upward and sideways". He had been sleeping prior and stated he did not notice the illuminated seatbelt signs. The motion caused him to fall and break his ankle.
Simultaneously, a cabin crew member was in the process of lowering her jumpseat to strap herself in when the turbulence lifted her, resulting in a fall that also caused a broken ankle.
Both casualties received immediate first aid from other crew members and two passengers who were doctors. Shortly after, a third passenger fell unconscious and required medical attention.
Response and Safety Conclusions
The flight's captain considered diverting to airports in Canada or Iceland but deemed it unsuitable, opting instead to continue to the planned destination. Upon landing at Heathrow, ambulances met the aircraft and transported all three individuals to hospital.
The AAIB emphasised that the captain's decision to turn on the seatbelt signs in advance likely prevented more people from being injured. It is a mandatory rule for passengers to wear their seatbelt whenever the signs are illuminated.
A British Airways spokesperson said: "Safety is always our priority and our highly-skilled pilots and cabin crew are trained to manage rare events such as this. The aircraft landed safely at London Heathrow, where our teams looked after both our colleague and the customer."
The report serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of in-flight turbulence. It follows the tragic death of 73-year-old Geoff Kitchen from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, who suffered a suspected heart attack during severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow on May 21, 2024. That incident also left seven people seriously injured.
