It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for United and Hawaiian Airlines as both experienced severe turbulence mid-flight.
On Wednesday night, a United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Rome, had to turn around and land in New Jersey after experiencing a possible loss of cabin pressure. The plane dropped from 37,000 feet down to just 9,000 feet in the span of eight minutes after takeoff, per FlightAware. There were 270 passengers and 14 crew members on board, all of whom landed safely.
Two hours after the Flight 510 incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a Boeing 767 that United Airlines was operating from Brazil to Houston reported encountering turbulence over Cancun, Mexico. “Injuries included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising, and loss of consciousness,” Shayne Enright, a Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman, said. Five people were transported to the hospital, including two passengers and three crew members.
In December, Hawaiian Airlines was in the headlines for what was described as “extreme turbulence” that saw 36 passengers hurt, 20 of them taken to the hospital. Director of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, Jim Ireland, said, “We are very happy and we feel fortunate that there were not any deaths or other critical injuries.”
Hawaiian Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jon Snook, told reporters that the “fasten seatbelt” sign was illuminated when the incident took place. “Sometimes, these air pockets occur with no warning. It’s rare to have that level of extreme turbulence. It was a very extreme case of mid-air turbulence,” Snook said.
The FAA is now investigating both incidents to determine the cause of the turbulence and to ensure that safety measures and procedures are indeed in place. Aviation experts say that though such incidents are very rare, the failure to pay attention to warnings and follow safety procedures can lead to tragedy.
“We have to be very aware and informed of changes in the atmosphere while on the plane,” said Larry Bowmer, a pilot and professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “We all need to take responsibility for ourselves and remain alert if a warning signal has been activated,” he added.
Bowmer also stressed that the safety of an airplane is built on “individuals working together and sharing information.”
In the wake of such incidents, passengers are being urged to be more vigilant in their air travel and pay close attention to safety guidelines. As for Hawaiian and United Airlines, the magnitude of the incidents is informing new safety protocols and guidelines to ensure that such turbulence incidents will be far less likely to occur in the future.
The FAA Is investigating the rapid descent of a United Airlines jet that was traveling from Newark, New Jersey to Rome. Pilots on the flight reported a possible pressurization issue about 50 minutes into the flight and had to circle back to the airport for an emergency landing. pic.twitter.com/Y43oApBaSk
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) September 14, 2023
