Severe turbulence,which recently forced the emergency landing of a transatlantic flight, is on the rise. But why and what can be done?United Airlines Flight 880 was carrying more than 200 passengers from Houston, and Texas,to London’s Heathrow airport two weeks ago when it was battered by turbulence that threw people on to the cabin ceiling. Twenty-three people were injured. “We were flying along as smooth as can be and then were just slapped massively from the top as if someone had torpedoed us,” one passenger told journalists.
The aircraft, and a Boeing 767-300,made an emergency landing at Shannon airport and the injured were taken to University Hospital, Limerick. No one was seriously distress but all went through a terrifying experience and one, or say experts,which will increasingly affect flights.
In the US alone it is estimated that disruption from turbulence already costs more than $500 million a year Related: Heathrow expansion: Planned price hikes will discontinuance budget flights not airport emissions | Leo Barasi Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com