"Everything Flew Around" Nightmare 7 Hours... Argentina-bound Flight Shaken by Turbulence

Passenger plane carrying 271 people spills items over the Atlantic, 12 passengers injured
Airline: "Seatbelt warning light was on, announcement was made"

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A passenger plane traveling from Spain to Argentina encountered severe turbulence, injuring more than 12 passengers.

According to the US CNN on the 21st (local time), Aerolineas Argentinas flight R1133 (Airbus A330-200), carrying 271 passengers, took off from Madrid, Spain, around 8 p.m. on the 18th and was scheduled to land at Ezeiza International Airport near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

However, about seven hours into the flight, it encountered severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean. Turbulence is an irregular airflow with varying directions and speeds, formed by large and small vortices occurring in a steady airflow. Such turbulence can impact cruising aircraft, posing a threat.

The plane experienced violent up-and-down shaking due to the turbulence. As a result, various items were scattered across the cabin floor, and some passengers hit their heads on the ceiling or seats.

This situation was vividly captured in photos and videos posted on social networking services (SNS) by passengers on board at the time. Images of passengers holding their heads or with gauze on their noses from injuries clearly show the damage sustained.

One passenger tweeted, "There was no announcement to fasten seat belts, yet we hit turbulence," adding, "Everyone was completely thrown around." He also said, "The last seven hours of the flight were a nightmare."

According to the airline, a total of 12 passengers were injured due to the turbulence. Three required careful observation, while the remaining nine received treatment for minor injuries.

However, the airline denied passengers' claims that no seatbelt announcement was made. Aerolineas Argentinas stated in a press release, "According to information provided by the crew, the seatbelt sign was on during the turbulence, and there was an announcement accordingly." They emphasized, "Passengers with serious injuries were not wearing seatbelts during the turbulence."

There have been several incidents where passengers were injured due to turbulence during flights. In 2019, an Air Canada flight from Canada to Australia encountered severe turbulence causing a sudden drop, injuring 35 people including passengers. In May, an Indian passenger plane was caught in turbulence, injuring at least 15 passengers.

The aviation industry regards such turbulence as a major threat to passenger safety. Recently, experts have predicted an increased likelihood of turbulence due to climate change, prompting calls for measures such as strengthening in-flight safety regulations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.