Two individuals on a British Airways flight bound for London sustained broken ankles due to turbulence. The incident occurred 20 minutes after the seatbelt signs were turned on, injuring a passenger and a cabin crew member. The turbulence, lasting between 10 to 15 seconds, was described as mild to moderate by the captain. The passenger broke his ankle as the aircraft suddenly shifted while he was returning to his seat from the restroom. The cabin crew member fractured her ankle when the turbulence lifted her while she was securing her seatbelt. Other passengers and crew members, including two doctors, provided immediate medical assistance to the injured individuals. Following the turbulence, another passenger fell ill and lost consciousness.
The turbulence occurred over the Atlantic Ocean south of Greenland. Although the captain considered diverting to airports in Canada or Iceland, he decided to continue to Heathrow due to unsuitable conditions at those locations. The Airbus A380 aircraft landed at Heathrow, where ambulances transported the three injured parties to the hospital.
It is mandatory for passengers to wear seatbelts when the signs are lit. The captain activated the signs beforehand after monitoring weather conditions on his tablet, potentially preventing more injuries. A British Airways spokesperson emphasized safety as a priority and praised the crew for their management of the situation.
In a separate incident, a passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight passed away from a suspected heart attack during severe turbulence. Seven others sustained serious injuries, and many suffered minor injuries on the flight from Heathrow to Singapore. Witnesses described a significant drop in the Boeing 777 aircraft, causing unrestrained passengers to hit the ceiling. The cabin suffered damage, with debris scattered across the floor in the aftermath of the turbulence.