An Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner experienced severe turbulence during a flight from Madrid to Montevideo on July 1, 2024, resulting in injuries to at least 30 passengers and forcing an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil. The flight, carrying 325 passengers, landed at Natal International Airport at 02:32 local time.The severity of injuries varied, with passengers suffering from head trauma, cervical fractures, facial lacerations, and chest pain. While most injuries were minor, some passengers required hospitalization. Local health services reported that 40 passengers were taken to hospitals, with 11 remaining hospitalized. Injured passengers came from various countries, including Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Israel, Bolivia, and Germany.Passengers described the incident as terrifying, with one comparing it to a ‘free fall’ and a ‘scene of chaos’. Objects and people were reportedly flying around the cabin, and one passenger was even left stuck in an overhead compartment with luggage due to the turbulence.Air Europa has arranged for another flight to transport the affected passengers to their final destination in Montevideo. However, some passengers criticized the airline’s response, citing a lack of representation at the airport and delayed communication.This incident is the latest in a series of turbulence-related events involving Boeing aircraft, raising concerns about airline safety. It follows a similar incident in May where a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to 104 passengers and one fatality.Experts suggest that incidents of clear-air turbulence may be increasing due to climate change. A recent study indicated that climate change might be increasing the risk of severe turbulence.The incident has prompted discussions about the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened during flights, even when the seatbelt sign is off, as many of those injured were reportedly not wearing seatbelts at the time of the turbulence.
Key points
- At least 30 passengers were injured due to severe turbulence on an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo.
- The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner made an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil, with 40 passengers taken to hospitals.
- Passengers reported chaotic scenes, with objects and people flying around the cabin.
- The incident has raised concerns about airline safety and the potential increase in turbulence due to climate change.
Contradictions👾There are discrepancies in the reported number of injured passengers, ranging from 30 to 40.
👾One source reported a fatality, but this was not corroborated by other sources and appears to be inaccurate.
