BTN News: A flight from Madrid to Montevideo had to land in Brazil because of very bad turbulence. Many people got hurt in this incident.
Emergency Landing in Brazil After Severe Turbulence Hits Flight
The Air Europa flight, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, had 325 passengers when it had to land at Natal International Airport in northeastern Brazil at 2:32 AM local time. Many ambulances were waiting at the airport.
Many Passengers Got Hurt and Went to Hospital After Flight Lands
Forty passengers got minor injuries, like cuts and bruises, and went to hospitals in Natal. Eleven people were still in the hospital by Monday afternoon, with five in private clinics and six in Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel Hospital. The injured people included those from Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Israel, Bolivia, and Germany.
Air Europa Said Flight Had Severe Turbulence and Aircraft Under Inspection
Air Europa said the flight had “severe turbulence,” which caused different injuries. The aircraft would be checked for any damage. The airline arranged for another plane to take the passengers to Recife, about 290 kilometers south of Natal, where they would stay before going to Montevideo.
Passengers Described the Experience as Very Scary and Chaotic
Claudio Fernández Arbes, a 43-year-old Uruguayan psychologist, said it felt like the plane was falling. He said people and things were flying around inside the cabin. “It was absolute terror for a few seconds, followed by long minutes of uncertainty,” Fernández Arbes said, noting that many people were hurt and scared.
Mariela Jodal, another passenger, said wearing seat belts saved her during the turbulence. She later complained on social media about the airline’s poor communication and being stuck at the airport.
Increasing Turbulence Linked to Climate Change According to Scientists
This incident happened after other recent turbulence problems. In May, a British passenger died, and several others were hurt on a Singapore Airlines flight from London. A week later, twelve people were hurt on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Ireland.
Scientists say that the increase in clear-air turbulence is because of climate change. A study in 2023 showed a 17% rise in the yearly duration of such turbulence from 1979 to 2020, with severe cases going up by over 50%.
Boeing, the maker of the aircraft, has faced problems after deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019, and a fuselage issue on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January.
