Last week, four flight attendants from American Airlines were injured due to turbulence, the company confirmed on Monday.
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The crew members were aboard flight 2905. They departed from Tampa International Airport in Florida on August 8, heading to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
According to American Airlines, the four flight attendants were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. However, the extent of their injuries has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, none of the 154 passengers were harmed.
“American Airlines flight 2905 with service from Tampa (TPA) to Charlotte (CLT) landed safely at CLT after encountering unexpected turbulence,” a spokesperson for the airline said, per the NY Post. “We thank our crew members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”
The Turbulence the American Airlines Flight Experienced is Commonplace
Turbulence is a common experience on commercial flights worldwide, and most of the time, it poses no cause for concern. However, in certain cases, it can lead to injuries or even fatalities.
David Cohen, the dean of Lynn University’s College of Aeronautics weighed in on turbulence following the incident.
“An aircraft gets lift by having air pass over the top and bottom of the wing. Typically, that air flows smoothly like it would coming out of a house fan on your face,” Cohen told Newsweek.
He explained that when there is a brief disruption in airflow over the wing, it leads to a temporary loss of lift. We perceive it as turbulence.
“Given the size, speed, and weight of modern airliners, these small perturbations of airflow are rarely felt as any significant change of lift,” he added.
This incident marks the latest in a growing number of turbulence-related events, which are increasingly common, even during warmer months. The impacts of climate change on the atmosphere are expected to lead to more frequent and severe turbulence, particularly clear air turbulence. This type is particularly challenging for pilots to predict, as it lacks visible warning signs.
In May, a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence. This led to injuries for 30 passengers and the unfortunate death of one individual due to a heart attack.
To top it all off, the turbulence is even altering the way passengers eat while flying.
Earlier this month, Korean Air announced that it would cease serving instant ramen as a safety measure in response to increasing turbulence.