Thursday, August 29, 2024 A United Airlines flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Chicago O’Hare experienced a severe turbulence incident on August 28, forcing an unscheduled diversion to Memphis. The turbulence, which occurred while the seatbelt sign was illuminated, led to injuries among some passengers and necessitated the diversion. Flight Details and Impact Flight UA 1196, a Boeing 737, was en route from Cancun to Chicago when it encountered turbulent conditions over Louisiana.
The flight, scheduled to depart at 12:20 and arrive at 16:15, typically takes just over three hours. On this occasion, the turbulence resulted in six minor injuries and one passenger requiring hospitalization upon landing in Memphis. The aircraft was carrying over 175 people at the time of the incident.
Recent Trends in Turbulence Incidents Severe turbulence incidents leading to diversions or injuries have been increasingly reported. Earlier this month, an EVA Air flight from Jakarta to Taiwan encountered turbulence during meal service, injuring six flight attendants. In another case, a Southwest Airlines flight from Manchester to Baltimore experienced turbulence that resulted in serious injuries to a passenger, prompting an FAA investigation.
On August 8, an American Airlines Airbus A321 from Tampa to Charlotte faced unexpected turbulence, injuring four flight attendants who were treated at a hospital after the plane landed safely. Airlines’ Response and Policy Changes In response to the rising number of turbulence-related incidents, some airlines are revising their policies to enhance safety. Korean Air has removed instant noodles from the economy class menu to avoid burn injuries, and Singapore Airlines has suspended the service of hot drinks and meals when the seatbelt sign is on.
Call for Action Given the uptick in turbulence-related occurrences, aviation regulators are advocating for increased safety measures. At a recent summit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), member nations discussed enhancing collaboration among airlines and introduced new guidelines to mitigate turbulence-related incidents. For a detailed analysis of these proposed measures, see our in-depth article below.
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