Cathay Pacific A350 Turbulence Injures 10 People

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 experienced severe turbulence, injuring 10 people, including passengers and crew.

The routine service CX156 was operating between Brisbane and Hong Kong when it encountered a severe case of clear air turbulence during the cruise stage.

A total of six cabin crew members and four passengers were injured in the incident before the aircraft was able to safely arrive in Hong Kong, where medical staff were waiting for the flight to help take those injured to the hospital for further evaluation.

B-LRV was operating the routine service as CX156 inbound to the airline’s hub in Hong Kong. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 25L approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes after departure.

Unpacking The Incident

The incident took place around two hours prior to the aircraft arriving in Hong Kong, with the crew in the position of being up out of their seats and conducting service.

As a result, the crew and, certainly, passengers had little time to prepare for the turbulence that hit the flight, resulting in 10 being injured; 8 of whom were transported to the hospital for evaluation of minor injuries.

Passengers on the flight reported that during the sudden and violent drop, objects were sent flying across the cabin, and a state of panic was felt among those onboard.

Cathay Pacific, after the event, confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that it was supporting affected passengers and crew while working closely with authorities.

Turbulence is far from uncommon, and thankfully, most of the time it will not result in injuries, as crews work around the paths of airspace where it poses heightened risk. That said, it’s not always avoidable, and it can occur at any time, which is why passengers are always urged to keep their seatbelts fastened.

What Next For Cathay Pacific

Now, the biggest focus for Cathay Pacific is the well-being of its crew and passengers aboard CX156 to Hong Kong, especially aiding those injured on the flight.

Additionally, a sharp focus will be placed on crew procedures and on the timing of the crew service, aligned with the weather conditions of the flight that occurred and the future routing between these two cities, as well as other similar sectors.

The long cruise over the Coral Sea and then into Southeast Asia is part of the overview. Cathay Pacific knows that turbulence happens on all flights; it’s impossible to have a totally smooth journey, but ensuring that injuries and sudden drops, such as the ones felt, do not occur is the most important thing it can do.