Severe Turbulence Incident on Air Europa Flight

Severe turbulence struck an Air Europa flight en route to Uruguay from Spain on Monday, causing injuries to more than two dozen passengers. The unsettling incident resulted in several individuals sustaining neck and skull fractures, marking at least the second severe turbulence-related injuries worldwide in less than a month.

Flight Details

Flight UX045 was forced to make an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil, after encountering the turbulence over four hours into the journey from Madrid. Passengers were thrown around the cabin during the turbulent episode, leading to head, neck, and chest injuries for some.

Injuries and Treatment

Brazilian public health officials reported that 36 passengers received medical attention, with 23 individuals requiring hospitalization. While some passengers suffered shock without physical injuries, others faced more severe conditions. By the end of the day, five passengers remained hospitalized, four of them in intensive care.

Passenger Accounts

Witnesses on board described a harrowing scene, with passengers being tossed through the air within the Boeing 787 jet. Shocking accounts include one passenger being propelled out of their seat and becoming lodged in the aircraft’s ceiling. Videos shared on social media captured the chaos, showing broken ceiling panels and seats.

• Passenger Evangelina Saravia recounted a person being stuck between the plastic ceiling and metal roof, requiring assistance to be brought down.
• Another passenger, Romina Apai, shared the experience of sitting next to the individual embedded in the ceiling, emphasizing the chaos that ensued when the aircraft stabilized.

Turbulence and Safety

Although turbulence is a common occurrence, incidents resulting in severe injuries are relatively rare. The Federal Aviation Administration reported just 163 serious injuries from turbulence in the United States between 2009 and 2022. Notably, this incident follows a similar case from June where a passenger died and many were injured due to turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight.

Turbulence, typically caused by changes in wind patterns, can pose risks to passengers not wearing seatbelts. Climate change may contribute to an increase in turbulence frequency due to altered air currents influenced by rising carbon dioxide emissions.