On Wednesday, seven people on a Lufthansa flight from Texas to Germany were taken to hospitals after the plane they were travelling on experienced “significant turbulence” and diverted to a Washington, D.C., area airport....CONTINUE READING
Flight 469 was flying from Austin to Frankfurt when it encountered the turbulence and diverted to Dulles International Airport in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said. The plane landed safely at 9:12 p.m.
The seven passengers were taken to hospitals, the authority said, though their conditions were not immediately released. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the crew encountered severe turbulence at 37,000 feet while the aircraft was flying over Tennessee. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.
Turbulence is a dangerous phenomenon that can cause injuries to passengers, and often forces unexpected landings. It is created by irregular motion in the air caused by eddies and vertical currents.
In December, 25 people on a Hawaiian Airlines flight were hurt after experiencing turbulence from Phoenix to Honolulu. Similarly, eight people were hurt in June on a flight from Florida to Tennessee which diverted to Alabama due to turbulence.
To protect passengers on flights, airlines must take the necessary steps to avoid turbulence and ensure everyone is safe. In the future, AI technology may be used to predict and avoid turbulence. Until then, passengers should be aware of the risks of turbulence and take appropriate safety measures when necessary.
