A couple of days ago I wrote about an incident of severe turbulence, which caused a fatality. There’s now a bit more information about this tragic incident, so I wanted to provide an update to reflect those additional details.
Continue reading: Severe Turbulence Causes Fatality On Business Jet
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I don't want to sound controversial, but I have always though that severe turbulence can cause a lot of harm in premium classes of travel. Given how rare it is, I wouldn't expect it to change people's behaviour, but still...
- Premium class cutlery, crockery and glassware can cause a lot more harm (I will take an economy class cardboard fork over a metal one any day)
- Even with your seat belt on, a laptop can be pretty nasty if it hits you in the face
- Especially with the new Business/First products, many people keep their belonging around, rather than the overhead bins. It's very safe, until it isn't.
Keene is on the NH VT border. Very sad. Sounds like there needs to be some new legislation for fastening seatbelts. Who signed off on their flight plan ? Did any nearby planes report turbulence in the area ? I sat next to a pilot dead heading once he showed me all about the turbulence on his iPad. Pilots report it anything from light to severe. He’s goes duck hunting and is a pilot so that’s a win win for studying the weather. The ducks need to fly away to a certain area when weather comes in. To each their own I guess.
And yet you have no examples of a laptop harming someone... or a metal fork. And even if you did.... it would be what... 1 in 100,000,000?
This is just nonsense.
Yeah but I'm economy you have 10x as many people with everyone having some sort of portable device and general stuff on their seat, seat pockets and ground. When there is severe turbulence all that stuff will get jostle and eventually become projectiles. You're more likely to die from a power bank to the head than a tiny knife that really isn't all that sharp. Beverage carts for example have killed FAs many times. Ain't none of that in 1st class.
I know people who were on the Feb 9th United flight #1719 ROC-ORD that they described as a "wild, wild, wild plane ride. Worst turbulence on a flight ever. We even almost landed and he had to take us back up into the air bc they closed the runway! First time I've seen someone throw up in one of those airline bags. Poor lady. She was green...She was still hurling when everyone was deplaning."
Luckily, there was an excellent pilot on the airplane, and kudos to him! There was very bad weather all the way ROC-ORD. Lightening. Storms. Are the airlines doing things differently now? There have been multiple reports of people going through these situations recently. Let's hope it's not the norm
I rarely compliment Lufthansa but their policy of requiring seatbelts at all times if seated is something I really appreciate.
I understand that some people find *tightly* fastened seatbelts uncomfortable, but you can keep them fairly loose during the cruise. They will still prevent passenger from flying around that way.
I have no idea of the condition of the person that died but flying 2-4 times a week it never seems to fail that some older person with obvious mobility issues will get up and use the lav even when the seatbelt sign is on. And what can the flight attendants do other than say "be careful." Otherwise, do you think they want to deal with an "elder type accident." It wouldn't take but a couple of hard bumps to cause an injury. I'm shocked there aren't more in air severe injuries.
I was on an LH flight from EZE to FRA the other week. Lots of turbulence and the meal service was suspended and flight attendants told to sit. All of a sudden the crew screams "will the man standing who is holding a BABY please sit down". Seriously wouldn't you be worried about the baby?
Sometimes "older" people have bladder issues that require them to get to a toilet quickly. Those without such issues likely have no understanding of what they may go through and how they weigh up the pros and cons of getting out of their seat. Hope this helps you in your understanding.
Do private jets have fasten seatbelt signs? Might be a potential safety improvement if not.
It seems like incidents like this have been more frequent lately. Maui, Tennessee, now this. Somehow, I think Biden's woke agenda plays a part.
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Facts yet to be determined but this MIGHT be nothing to do with "turbulence". There is an Airworthiness Directive out on certain of these jets involving the tail feathers. NTSB are investigating this with input from a CVR and FDR on this jet so should have good data sources....
Does not detract from sad result nor remove the need to keep seatbelts fastened.
Time and factual data will tell...
I think many people think differently as compared to other types of transportation
It's sad to hear that someone has died due to severe turbulence and anyone for that matter being injured. My condolences to the family in this tragic incident. In the world of aviation there will always be accidents, even no matter how safe we have been building aircraft and how rules and regulations may be restricting pilots and crew from overlying in the future, although that certainly doesn't seem the case with that. You just never know what the journey brings along the way, but all we hope for, is that we get there safely to experience the memory.