A Cathay Pacific flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong encountered severe turbulence mid-air, resulting in injuries to ten people, according to reports.
Incident Details
Flight CX156, operated by an Airbus A350-900 carrying up to 240 passengers, suddenly dropped just two hours before its scheduled arrival on Sunday, as reported by Australian outlet 9 News. The turbulence occurred near the end of the overnight journey from Brisbane.
Injuries and Response
Medical response teams met the aircraft on the runway after landing at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline confirmed that six cabin crew and four passengers reported minor injuries, with eight individuals sent to hospital for further medical care.
A passenger told the South China Morning Post that people screamed as it felt like they were “free-falling from a drop tower.” Another passenger told ABC News that he “thought the plane was going down” when turbulence struck shortly after cabin crew had begun the breakfast service. He described the plane plunging twice in quick succession due to “some sort of thunder or lightning cell” that had not been visible on radar due to dark conditions.
Understanding Clear-Air Turbulence
The Federal Aviation Administration defines clear-air turbulence (CAT) as “sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent buffeting of aircraft … CAT is especially troublesome because it is often encountered unexpectedly and frequently without visual clues to warn pilots of the hazard.”
Aftermath and Airline Statement
Images shared on social media showed the cabin strewn with meal trays, food containers, and loose equipment. The flight landed safely at around 6.45am after nearly nine hours. A Cathay Pacific spokesperson told 9 News: “Medical personnel boarded the aircraft to assess the conditions of a small number of passengers and crew who reported feeling unwell, and they were provided with the utmost level of care.” The Independent has contacted Cathay Pacific for comment.
