Severe Turbulence Injures 7 Passengers on Hawaiian Airlines Flight to Australia

A Hawaiian Airlines flight traveling from Honolulu to Sydney encountered severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to seven individuals on board.

The flight, carrying 163 passengers and 12 crew members, experienced unexpected and severe turbulence approximately five hours into the journey, according to a statement from the airline.

Passenger Sultan Baskonyali recounted the incident, stating, “The plane suddenly dropped, catching us off guard and unprepared.”

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During the turbulence, one passenger was propelled upward, hitting his head on the ceiling before descending back down, as described by Baskonyali.

Upon landing at Sydney airport, three injured passengers were assessed and released by airport medics, as announced by the airline on Monday. However, one passenger and three flight attendants required further evaluation and were accordingly referred for medical assessment.

“Our immediate focus is to ensure the well-being of our affected passengers and crew in the aftermath of this turbulence incident, and we express our gratitude to the swift assistance provided by Sydney airport’s first responders,” the airline stated.

Notably, a Hawaiian Airlines flight experienced a similar incident last year, resulting in injuries to 25 individuals. Four passengers and two crew members were seriously hurt, while the aircraft sustained minor damage.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s report, the captain of the December 18 flight from Phoenix to Honolulu explained that the weather conditions were calm with clear skies until a cloud unexpectedly emerged in front of the plane. There was insufficient time to alter the flight path. The incident occurred approximately 40 minutes before landing in Honolulu.

Hawaiian Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer, Jon Snook, expressed that such turbulence was uncommon and that the airline had not encountered anything comparable in recent history. He further noted that the seat belt sign was illuminated at the time, although some injured individuals were not wearing them.

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• Hawaiian Airlines Official Website