26-5-2024 (DUBLIN) A harrowing incident unfolded aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Ireland on Sunday, leaving 12 individuals injured during a bout of severe turbulence. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating as flight QR017, landed safely at Dublin Airport shortly before 1 p.m. local time, but the ordeal it endured while airborne over Turkey left an indelible mark on those onboard.
According to Dublin Airport’s statement, upon touchdown, the plane was immediately met by emergency services, including Airport Police and the Fire and Rescue department. The swift response was prompted by reports of injuries sustained by six passengers and six crew members during the turbulent episode.
Irish broadcaster RTE, citing accounts from passengers disembarking at the airport, revealed that the terrifying incident lasted less than 20 seconds and occurred during the routine service of food and drinks.
Qatar Airways, in a statement addressing the matter, acknowledged that a “small number” of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries during the flight, adding that those affected were receiving medical attention. However, the airline refrained from directly commenting on the specifics of the turbulence encounter, stating that an internal investigation into the incident is underway.
This unsettling event comes just five days after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence. Tragically, that incident claimed the life of a 73-year-old British man and left 20 others in intensive care, highlighting the potentially grave consequences of such mid-air disturbances.
Turbulence-related airline accidents are, unfortunately, the most common type, according to a 2021 study by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The study revealed that between 2009 and 2018, turbulence accounted for more than a third of reported airline accidents, with the majority resulting in one or more serious injuries, albeit without causing significant aircraft damage.
