Unruly turbulence inflicts harm on two passengers aboard a flight bound for London.
EasyJet flight 8210, heading from Corfu to London Gatwick on August 19, had to change course and land in Rome due to turbulence in Italian airspace, which left two cabin crew members with injuries.
A substitute plane transported the affected travelers, who eventually reached their destination in the UK on the same day.
Based on reports, the seatbelts were likely activated during the turbulence, and no passengers experienced harm.
EasyJet confirmed the incident through a statement, stating: "Flight EZY8120, from Corfu to London Gatwick on August 19, encountered turbulence that resulted in two crew members sustaining injuries. The captain subsequently decided to redirect to Rome, where medical assistance was provided to the crew members.
"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and staff is EasyJet's top priority, and our pilots are trained to handle situations involving turbulence.
"The plane touched down safely in Rome, where assistance was given to the passengers within the terminal, and alternative crew and aircraft were arranged to continue the journey to London Gatwick."
Authorities declined to divulge information about the injured crew members' ability to travel back to London along with the passengers.
During the 75-minute ordeal, the Airbus A320 reached speeds of 500 knots (575mph) and elevations of 31,000 feet.
Italy's aviation safety agency, the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo, reported that the turbulence occurred as the plane entered Italian airspace.
"Given the nature and severity of the injuries, ANSV has initiated a safety investigation, classifying the incident as an accident," the agency said.
Southern Italy has been battered by stormy weather lately. Prior to the plane's detour, a Bayesian yacht sank in Sicily, with a waterspout – a type of tornado – being suspected as the cause. Six passengers are still unaccounted for.
According to Flight Radar 24, the jet has remained at Rome's Fiumicino airport and has yet to restart operations.
Non-fatal accidents frequently stem from turbulence, causing injuries to both flight attendants and passengers, as stated by the Federal Aviation Administration. It's also one of the most common types of airline accidents, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. These incidents cost U.S. airlines as much as $500 million annually due to injuries, hold-ups, and damages, based on data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
As the climate crisis worsens, turbulence is expected to become more frequent, according to experts.
This year alone, turbulence has resulted in injuries and even fatalities for passengers.
In July, 30 passengers were hurt during turbulence on an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay.
The incident followed a series of unfortunate events in May, when a British man lost his life, and over 70 passengers were injured during severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Experts suggest that wearing a seatbelt at all times is the most effective way to prevent injuries during turbulence, a piece of advice that the fortunate passengers on EasyJet's flight 8210 no doubt appreciate.
Additional reporting by Jacopo Prisco
The altered EasyJet plane, initially bound for London Gatwick, eventually resumed its journey in an aviation replacement, continuing the travel of the passengers.
Turbulence-related incidents, such as the one on EasyJet flight 8210, are commonly reported in aviation, as highlighted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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