Passengers Injured as Qatar Airways Plane Encounters Turbulence on Flight to Dublin

Twelve passengers and crew members were injured, with eight requiring hospitalization, after a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin experienced severe turbulence during its journey.

The flight, identified as QR017 and operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, successfully landed at Dublin Airport ahead of its scheduled arrival time on Sunday.

Upon landing, emergency services at Dublin Airport attended to the situation, as six passengers and six crew members reported injuries sustained during turbulence encountered over Turkish airspace.

According to reports from RTÉ, the turbulent episode lasted briefly, with passenger Paul Mocc describing the chaotic scene of people being thrown towards the ceiling and food and drinks scattering around the cabin.

Emma Rose Power, another traveler on board, recounted witnessing flight attendants with facial injuries and one with a sling on her arm post-turbulence.

Qatar Airways confirmed that a «small number» of passengers and crew suffered minor injuries and were receiving medical attention, while emphasizing that safety remains a primary concern.

This incident comes just days after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore diverted to Bangkok due to severe turbulence, resulting in one fatality and numerous injuries, some critical.

An analysis by the US National Transportation Safety Board highlighted turbulence as a common factor in airline accidents, responsible for a significant portion of reported incidents with varying degrees of severity.

Experts point to changing weather patterns as a potential contributor to the increasing frequency of turbulence encounters during flights, raising awareness for enhanced safety measures within the aviation industry.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to the coverage of this event, shedding light on the global impact and attention garnered by turbulence-related incidents in air travel.