In-flight injuries from turbulence ‘surprisingly common,’ says aviation investigator

As airline passengers continue receiving treatment in a Calgary hospital for injuries sustained during extreme turbulence, Transport Canada reveals there have been 81 other cases of on-board injuries in the past 10 years.

John Pottinger, an aviation safety consultant who investigated accidents and dozens of other incidents at Transport Canada, said airline travel remains “extremely safe,” but he noted injuries from turbulence are “surprisingly common.”

“The bottom line issue here is people don’t wear their seatbelts like they do in a car,” Pottinger said, adding that airlines have been reluctant to educate passengers about the dangers of not being buckled in.

“The airlines are not really inclined to want to show a safety video that shows people flying around an airplane and getting injured. Maybe that kind of thing, a lot of people suggest, is something that would be much more helpful.”

Twenty-one passengers, including three children, were injured Wednesday after their Air Canada flight from shanghai to Toronto hit major turbulence. Passengers were flung from their seats as phones, purses and other objects hit the ceiling.

The aircraft made an emergency landing in Calgary, where injured patents were rushed to hospital. Air Canada said Thursday afternoon that most of them had since been released, while three continued to be treated.

Credit: calgary herald