Qatar Airways Flight Turbulence Incident Leaves 12 Injured

Twelve passengers were hurt when a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin experienced turbulence on Sunday.

The plane arrived in Dublin just before 1pm local time and was greeted by emergency responders, such as airport police and the fire and rescue team.

According to Dublin Airport, there were a total of twelve people injured in the incident. The turbulence occurred during Qatar Airways flight QR107 over Turkey. Dublin Airport is currently providing assistance to both passengers and crew members, and airport operations are running smoothly.

Qatar Airways told CNN that the flight safely landed in Dublin, but a few passengers and crew members suffered minor injuries and are currently getting medical care.

The airline stated that they are conducting an internal investigation into the incident. Ensuring the safety and security of their passengers and crew is their main focus.

Just days after 104 passengers were injured and a man with a heart condition was killed on a Singapore Airlines flight due to severe turbulence, another incident occurred.

On Tuesday, during Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore cruising at 37,000 feet, the plane suddenly dropped sharply before climbing several hundred feet. This was followed by repeated dips and ascents for about a minute according to flight tracking data.

Climate change has the potential to worsen turbulence for aircraft. In the United States, approximately 65,000 planes experience moderate turbulence annually, with around 5,500 encountering severe turbulence. These figures may increase in the future due to climate change.

Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, shared with CNN in 2022 his belief that climate change is impacting turbulence.

According to Williams, after conducting computer simulations, it was discovered that severe turbulence may increase by two to three times in the upcoming years.

The findings revealed a type of turbulence known as "clear air turbulence," which is not associated with visible weather features like storms or clouds. Unlike regular turbulence, it occurs suddenly and is difficult to predict or avoid.

Tuesday's Singapore Airlines flight encountered rapidly developing thunderstorms, not clear air turbulence. The type of turbulence experienced by the Qatar Airways plane has not been determined yet.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Jacopo Prisco contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The recent incidents of turbulence on Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines flights highlight the growing concern over the impact of climate change on air travel. As severe weather events become more frequent and intense, it is likely that turbulence will become more prevalent and potentially dangerous.

It is crucial that airlines take proactive measures to address this issue. This may include investing in technology to better predict and avoid turbulence, as well as providing proper training to flight crews on how to handle these situations. Passengers should also be made aware of the potential risks and given guidance on how to stay safe in the event of turbulence. By working together, airlines and passengers can mitigate the impact of climate change on air travel and ensure the safety of all those who fly.