WASHINGTON- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released new accident data from a Delta Air Lines (DL) flight that encountered severe turbulence in August 2023, highlighting critical safety concerns.
The incident occurred during Delta flight DL175 from Milan (MXP) to Atlanta (ATL), which experienced violent turbulence just 40 minutes before landing.
Delta Flight Turbulence
NTSB documents disclosed that eleven passengers were injured, with most not wearing seatbelts despite illuminated seatbelt signs.
The Airbus A350-900 encountered extreme turbulence after an otherwise uneventful transatlantic journey, causing significant passenger and crew injuries, flagged PYOK.
Two passengers suffered serious spinal fractures after being violently thrown from their seats and striking the aircraft’s ceiling. Additional passengers primarily experienced neck strain from similar violent impacts. The severity of the incident underscores the importance of following seatbelt instructions during flights.
Crew members also sustained substantial injuries during the turbulent event. One flight attendant experienced back compression fractures and broken ribs, while another received diagnoses of cervical compression fractures in the neck and upper back.
At the time of the incident, flight attendants were not seated and preparing the cabin for arrival.
The flight departed Milan Malpensa Airport more than three hours late and transformed from a routine international journey to a dangerous mid-air ordeal.
Additional crew injuries included neck and ankle strains, knee pain, and concussion, demonstrating the unpredictable and potentially life-threatening nature of severe turbulence.
Crew Remarks
The Delta Air Lines flight captain reported noticing potential weather complications during the approach to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport. Despite requesting a deviation from air traffic control to avoid potential issues, controllers denied the request.
The pilots relied on radar and an iPad-based app that showed no adverse weather conditions along their flight path.
Observing a build-up in the atmospheric conditions, the pilots alerted the cabin crew, instructing them to expedite service preparations.
The turbulence event was brief, lasting only 12 seconds, with a mere 2 seconds of severe intensity. However, this short duration was sufficient to cause multiple passenger injuries.
Immediately following the turbulence encounter, the pilots declared a medical emergency. Paramedics met the aircraft at the Atlanta gate, with eleven passengers requiring hospital transportation for evaluation and treatment.
NTSB research provides critical insights into turbulence-related incidents. Between 2009 and 2018, data revealed that 36% of turbulence-related injuries occur during an aircraft’s descent phase.
Furthermore, 65% of such accidents transpire when aircraft fly below 20,000 feet. In this specific incident, the Delta flight was at 14,000 feet when experiencing severe turbulence.
The incident prompted industry-wide safety reassessments. Southwest Airlines (WN) recently modified its flight attendant protocols to enhance cabin safety. The new procedures require flight attendants to be seated at 18,000 feet, compared to the previous 10,000-foot threshold.
Southwest anticipates this policy change could reduce flight attendant injuries by up to 20%.
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