Incident Details
The flight, which landed in Dublin shortly before 1 pm local time, was met by emergency services, including airport police and the fire and rescue department. According to a statement from Dublin Airport, six passengers and six crew members were injured, with eight individuals taken to the hospital following an assessment. The turbulence occurred while Qatar Airways flight QR017 was flying over Turkey.
Airport and Airline Response
Dublin Airport has been assisting passengers and staff, ensuring that airport operations were unaffected. The return flight to Doha, flight QR018, is scheduled to proceed, albeit with a delayed departure.
Qatar Airways confirmed in a statement to CNN that the flight landed safely in Dublin, but “a small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention.” The airline added that the incident is now subject to an internal investigation, emphasizing that “the safety and security of our passengers and crew are our top priority.”
Context and Recent Incidents
This incident follows closely on the heels of another turbulence-related event where 104 passengers were injured and a man with a heart condition was killed on a Singapore Airlines flight. Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence at 37,000 feet, causing the plane to drop sharply and repeatedly.
Rising Incidents of Turbulence
Approximately 65,000 aircraft encounter moderate turbulence annually in the US, with around 5,500 experiencing severe turbulence. Experts suggest these numbers may increase due to climate change. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the UK, explained that severe turbulence could double or triple in the coming decades. This is particularly concerning with “clear air turbulence,” which occurs without visual indicators like storms or clouds and hits suddenly, making it difficult to avoid.
Ongoing Investigations
Singapore Airlines has stated that its flight encountered sudden turbulence and that investigations are ongoing. An analysis of satellite data indicated that the flight entered an area where thunderstorms were developing, which can produce turbulence. The type of turbulence experienced by the Qatar Airways flight has not yet been determined.
Correction Notice
This article has been updated to reflect that the cause of the turbulence affecting the Singapore Airlines flight remains undetermined, and investigations are ongoing. Additionally, it corrects the number of the Qatar Airways flight that experienced turbulence, which was flight QR017.