Shocking turbulence on Emirates flight leaves ex-politician with serious injuries
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It seems almost anything can come as ‘standard’ in flying nowadays, from overpacked planes to long delays between flights—not to mention stressful security checks!
However, 'unbelievable chaos' and 'complete pandemonium' were the only ways former Western Australian Labor Minister Alannah MacTiernan could describe the mid-air nightmare that left her in a great deal of pain.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of air travel and the measures in place to protect passengers during turbulence.
MacTiernan is nursing a bruised face and broken ribs after a terrifying mid-air incident on an Emirates flight.
Emirates flight EK421 from Perth to Dubai hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to a dozen passengers. The turbulence was so severe that several passengers were sent crashing into the ceiling, and a number of crew members were also injured.
MacTiernan, who was on her way to the COP28 climate conference, was flung out of her business class seat as the aircraft plunged.
'I could barely move and was in quite a lot of pain. I took the full force on my chest, and I also knocked my head quite badly,' she said.
‘It was complete chaos, which you can understand at the moment and, I guess, immediately after because there were a lot of people hurt, including some of the crew.’
The incident happened a few hours before landing, and during that time, MacTiernan's face became swollen and badly bruised. A CT scan later revealed that the former politician had broken three ribs.
Emirates confirmed the 'unfortunate' incident, stating that medical staff assessed injured passengers and staff.
'We can confirm that flight EK421 from Perth to Dubai on 4 December briefly encountered unexpected turbulence mid-flight,' an Emirates spokesperson said.
'While onboard, those injured were assessed and assisted by our crew and medically-trained volunteers, with additional medical support provided via satellite link.’
‘The flight was met by medical services on landing, and Emirates has also deployed its care team to ensure the injured passengers and crew are provided all possible support.'
Understanding Turbulence and Air Travel Safety
Turbulence is a common occurrence in air travel, often caused by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. However, severe turbulence, like the one experienced on the Emirates flight, is less common and can be quite dangerous.
Aircraft are designed to withstand even the most severe turbulence. However, injuries can occur when passengers or crew are not buckled up and are thrown around inside the aircraft during such episodes.
This incident should be a lesson for everyone to know the importance of keeping your seatbelt fastened at all times during a flight, even when the seatbelt sign is off.
However, not all turbulence can be predicted, as with the Emirates flight. This is known as 'clear-air turbulence' and can occur in clear skies with good visibility.
Similarly, an Air India flight from New Delhi to Sydney ‘encountered turbulence mid-air, leading to discomfort to the passengers on board’.
Reports showed that up to seven passengers sustained injuries, including sprains, during the distressing in-flight episode. Read more about it here.
What are your thoughts on this incident, members? Have you ever experienced severe turbulence during a flight? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
However, 'unbelievable chaos' and 'complete pandemonium' were the only ways former Western Australian Labor Minister Alannah MacTiernan could describe the mid-air nightmare that left her in a great deal of pain.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of air travel and the measures in place to protect passengers during turbulence.
MacTiernan is nursing a bruised face and broken ribs after a terrifying mid-air incident on an Emirates flight.
Emirates flight EK421 from Perth to Dubai hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to a dozen passengers. The turbulence was so severe that several passengers were sent crashing into the ceiling, and a number of crew members were also injured.
Former Labor Minister Alannah MacTiernan showed her bruised face and the plane where several passengers were injured. Credit: 9News
MacTiernan, who was on her way to the COP28 climate conference, was flung out of her business class seat as the aircraft plunged.
'I could barely move and was in quite a lot of pain. I took the full force on my chest, and I also knocked my head quite badly,' she said.
‘It was complete chaos, which you can understand at the moment and, I guess, immediately after because there were a lot of people hurt, including some of the crew.’
The incident happened a few hours before landing, and during that time, MacTiernan's face became swollen and badly bruised. A CT scan later revealed that the former politician had broken three ribs.
Emirates confirmed the 'unfortunate' incident, stating that medical staff assessed injured passengers and staff.
'We can confirm that flight EK421 from Perth to Dubai on 4 December briefly encountered unexpected turbulence mid-flight,' an Emirates spokesperson said.
'While onboard, those injured were assessed and assisted by our crew and medically-trained volunteers, with additional medical support provided via satellite link.’
‘The flight was met by medical services on landing, and Emirates has also deployed its care team to ensure the injured passengers and crew are provided all possible support.'
Emirates confirmed the incident, and its medical staff assisted the injured passengers. Credit: Unsplash
Understanding Turbulence and Air Travel Safety
Turbulence is a common occurrence in air travel, often caused by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. However, severe turbulence, like the one experienced on the Emirates flight, is less common and can be quite dangerous.
Aircraft are designed to withstand even the most severe turbulence. However, injuries can occur when passengers or crew are not buckled up and are thrown around inside the aircraft during such episodes.
This incident should be a lesson for everyone to know the importance of keeping your seatbelt fastened at all times during a flight, even when the seatbelt sign is off.
However, not all turbulence can be predicted, as with the Emirates flight. This is known as 'clear-air turbulence' and can occur in clear skies with good visibility.
Similarly, an Air India flight from New Delhi to Sydney ‘encountered turbulence mid-air, leading to discomfort to the passengers on board’.
Reports showed that up to seven passengers sustained injuries, including sprains, during the distressing in-flight episode. Read more about it here.
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