30 People hurt in Turbulence--- One Critically

[andymattmom]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_turbulence_injuries;_ylt=Aok1df3fdNLXxmP5SWv9wv6s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNxb21hMG0wBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNzIxL3VzX3R1cmJ1bGVuY2VfaW5qdXJpZXMEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM1BHBvcwMyBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDZmxpZ2h0ZGl2ZXJ0

This is just an eye opener for ALL those traveling on airlines. They always tell us to fasten seat belts when seated, etc. It does not say if the injured did not have belts on or if the turbulence was so forceful that it caused them to "fly" out of seats and hurt themselves.

This should also be an eye opener for those who consider flying with lap children. This is not meant to start that "taboo" debate here...just saying it should be an eye opener in thinking what could have happened it a baby had been on a lap or unrestrained. Thankfully it doesn't appear that happened, but no details were released on critical injured person.

Just makes you remember how important it is to keep belts fastened and children properly restrained.

 

[Stitchnut]

You are right, and I agree, that we should keep the seatbelt on as much as possible. There are risks in everything

 

[taitai]

Interesting, the National Transportation Safety Board WANTS kids to have their own seats but it is the FAA that is balking. I guess their cozy relationship with the airlines is driving that. The airlines want kids to be in the lap so more parents fly. Crazy.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/09/earlyshow/contributors/susankoeppen/main6564141.shtml

 

[FoodLover]

According to posts on a frequent flyer board I read (which included posts by a woman whose husband was actually on the plane), 255 people were on the plane when it hit turbulence over Kansas. About 25 people, all of whom were in Economy, were not wearing their seatbelts, and they were the ones who got hurt. Their heads hit the overhead bins and/or the interior walls of the plane. There was a photo posted of a significant crack in the wall over a window that was caused by someone's HEAD hitting it. Ouch.

Oh, and by the way, reportedly the seatbelt sign was ON -- yet 10% of the passengers didn't think that applied to them.

 

[bdoyledimou]

back in my flying days, a flight i was on to Memphis hit an air pocket. We went from being way above the clouds to just below them in about 5 seconds.
ToT had nothing on that drop

But because of that experience, seatbelt on 100% of the time on the place except while in the potty.

 

[MrsNick]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=7566092

According to a witness on the plane who was quoted in the story linked above, people were hurt who weren't wearing seatbelts. She says she had her seatbelt fastened so she didn't get hurt.

Also totally agree about the point made for lap babies, which is why DD flies strapped into her carseat in her own seat on the airplane. I'd never forgive myself if not buying a ticket for my baby was the (preventable) reason she got hurt on a flight. If full grown adults can't hold themselves in seats during severe turbulence, what on earth would make anyone think they could hang on to a baby under the same conditions?

 

[Tara]

Note that the article also says this is the third United flight this year on which passengers were injured due to turbulence.

 

[MrsNick]

Interesting, the National Transportation Safety Board WANTS kids to have their own seats but it is the FAA that is balking. I guess their cozy relationship with the airlines is driving that. The airlines want kids to be in the lap so more parents fly. Crazy.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/09/earlyshow/contributors/susankoeppen/main6564141.shtml

Did anyone else read the comments at the end of this story? Apparently people believe that requiring infants to have their own seat is a money-making ploy by the airlines when in fact, the only reason that this isn't yet a law is because the FAA *read "the airlines"* believe fewer parents would fly *read "lose revenue"*. I don't know whether to or

 

[ratlenhum]

The FAA permits lap children but recommends they be in a seat

http://www.aviationinsurance.com/articles/IsALapChildAnUnsafePassenger_Fall08.pdf

 

[Brian Noble]

Note that the article also says this is the third United flight this year on which passengers were injured due to turbulence.

Because only United planes hit air pockets? I'm not sure what the point is here. Or do you mean "this happens more often than you think?" I'd agree with that, for sure.

the only reason that this isn't yet a law is because the FAA *read "the airlines"* believe fewer parents would fly *read "lose revenue"*.

I'm sure the airlines don't mind getting more revenue from the additional passengers, but there is a reasonable point here. The chances of a infant/toddler getting hurt or killed on a long road trip, even if properly restrained in the vehicle, are quite likely higher than the chances of a lap child being injured or killed on a flight covering the same distance.

Whether that's a good enough reason to not require it, I don't know. Doesn't much matter to me. My kids always had a seat with an FAA-approved restraint. If other parents don't want to pay the same "insurance premium" against the (admittedly very small) chance that something happens on the flight, that is their choice.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to say that I hope all the folks who posting lately who choose not to buy their baby a seat will give this some serious thought. WHAT IF that had been your unrestrained baby? Too scary to even think about.

Isn't your child's safety and well being worth a few hundred dollars?

I also want to say that it is things like that happening that makes me stay in my seat with my seatbelt on at all times. And if I have to use the lav, I sprint to it and then back again. No lollygagging.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

I fly frequently for my job and have been on both big and small planes that really started to shake in the air. I ONLY take my seat belt off to use the restroom and always have it tight on my waist. I don't know why anyone would feel that is restrictive. Have you seen the size of the seats?

 

[taitai]

I do find the NTSB/FAA dichotomy interesting. So, the National Transportation Safety Board, the organization responsible for safety for ALL means of transportation (driving, trains, planes, boats, etc.) believes NO lap babies. They are the safety people.

Whereas the FAA which regulates the airlines and gets all the fun perks and boondoggles paid for by the airlines, says, no seats. The airlines believe, rightly based on the chatter on this Board alone, that if the cost is too high, people will drive. So, lapbabies equal more revenue for the airlines.

I guess a baby's life is worth whatever the airlines pay for the FAA administrators to go to those cool conferences....

 

[SDSorority]

If I'm on a plane, and I'm not having to get up to go to the bathroom or something, my seatbelt is ON, fasten seatbelt sign or not. They tell you to have it on when you're seated regardless.

 

[robinb]

Statistically, very few people are hurt due to turbulence compared to the thousands of people who fly every day.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My husband was on this flight. He was in business and said no one in business or first was injured - all were wearing seatbelts. They had collected the trays from dinner service (no service in economy), but wine and coffee glasses were hurled at the ceiling and there was wine and coffee dripping from the ceiling and broken glass on the floor. He was traveling with a physician who went back to help the injured and said one woman cracked a light in the ceiling with her head and a number of people's heads cracked the walls. All the injured were in economy and were not wearing seatbelts.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Statistically, very few people are hurt due to turbulence compared to the thousands of people who fly every day.

Statistics don't help the critically injured person do they? I was on a flight that this exact thing happend though fewer were injured due to seatbelt usage & my kids will NEVER fly as lap chilren & I will not sit near a lap child. I'm not getting nailed by that projectile.

 

[Tara]

Because only United planes hit air pockets? I'm not sure what the point is here. Or do you mean "this happens more often than you think?" I'd agree with that, for sure.

It happens more often than most people would believe or consider.

 

[Tara]

Statistically, very few people are hurt due to turbulence compared to the thousands of people who fly every day.

Statistically, how many people are injured during turbulence incidents compared to the number of people killed in a crash? What seems to happen when turbulence injuries are brought up is people say "if the plane is going down, no one is going to survive anyway" as if a crash is the only danger. That's all I'm saying.

 

[fbb]

Glad the writer didn't tease the big tomato juice story, instead leading right off with it.