Seven passengers sustained injuries after severe turbulence shook up a Qantas flight from London to Singapore.
The incident aboard the Airbus A330 occurred on Friday morning when the airliner hit turbulence near Indian airspace a few hours before it landed in Singapore, reported The Australian newspaper. Four were taken to a hospital in Singapore and were later discharged.
Even though the plane “diverted around most of it but it was the initial part of the storm that had the impact,” according to a Qantas spokesperson, passengers were thrown around the cabin of the plane, reported the newspaper.
“The seat belt sign had come on but some passengers were still moving back to their seats,” the spokesperson added.
Passengers told reporters that it felt like the plane had dropped out of the air.
After the incident, the captain personally came out to reassure passengers to tell them exactly what happened.
“The captain came around to us all individually. Couldn’t have done a better job I don’t think,” one passenger told Australia’s ABC news.
According to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, in-flight turbulence is the leading source of injuries to passengers and crew members. Usually those injured are not wearing seat belts and have ignored the plane’s recommendations to stay put and their seat belts fastened.
Between 1981 and 1997, three passengers died due to in-flight turbulence, the air agency said.
