Extreme turbulence rattles Air Europa flight
- Turbulence was so severe a man wound up in an overhead bin
- Dozens of people were hospitalized, four in intensive care
- Clear air turbulence is on the rise thanks to climate change
Testing on staging11
(NewsNation) — Turbulence has always been a factor for flyers, but recently, severe turbulence has made some flights extremely dangerous, as was the case with a recent Air Europa flight.
The flight’s turbulence was so severe one man wound up in an overhead bin and had to be rescued by other passengers.
Videos of the aftermath showed blood in the cabin and broken compartments throughout the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The flight from Madrid, Spain, to Montevideo, Uruguay, made an emergency landing in Brazil, where 30 passengers were treated for various injuries. Four of those wound up in intensive care.
Air Europa cited severe turbulence as the problem, an issue which has also caused other frightening incidents.
In May, a 73-year-old man died of a heart attack after a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence. Six people on that flight also suffered serious injuries.
Aviation experts say atmospheric changes and clean air turbulence have contributed to the uptick in incidents, partly driven by climate change.
Unlike convective turbulence, which is caused by storms or weather, clear air turbulence doesn’t show up on radar and can only be detected by onboard sensors.
As the name implies, the erratic condition can occur in seemingly clear skies due to undetectable disruptions in airflow.
For proactive flyers, there are websites like turbulenceforecast.com where you can enter your flight number to check the expected outlook. However, like weather forecasts, turbulence forecasts can change after you board.
In general, flight crews say the best way to stay safe is to remain buckled in your seat.