An official investigation has confirmed that two individuals aboard a British Airways transatlantic flight sustained broken ankles when the aircraft encountered sudden turbulence. The incident occurred on a journey from Los Angeles to London Heathrow last December.
Details of the Mid-Air Incident
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report states the event took place on 6 December 2024. Approximately 20 minutes after the seatbelt signs were illuminated, the Airbus A380 was hit by a bout of turbulence lasting between 10 and 15 seconds. The captain described the jolt as 'light to moderate'.
One passenger was returning to his seat from the lavatory when the plane made a 'sudden movement upward and sideways', resulting in a broken ankle. He reported having been asleep prior to getting up and had not noticed the activated signs. Simultaneously, a cabin crew member was in the process of lowering her jumpseat to strap in when the turbulence lifted her, causing a fall that also broke her ankle.
Response and Decision to Continue
Both injured parties were treated on board by other crew members and two passengers who were doctors. Shortly afterwards, a third passenger fell unconscious, requiring additional medical attention. The event happened over the Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland.
The flight's commander considered diverting to airports in Canada or Iceland but ultimately judged these options unsuitable. The plane therefore continued its course to London Heathrow, where ambulances were waiting upon arrival. All three casualties were transported to hospital.
Safety Lessons and Previous Tragedy
The AAIB highlighted that the captain had activated the seatbelt signs in advance after monitoring a live weather application on a tablet device. The report concluded that more passengers and crew could have been injured had this precaution not been taken.
A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Safety is always our priority and our highly-skilled pilots and cabin crew are trained to manage rare events such as this. The aircraft landed safely at London Heathrow, where our teams looked after both our colleague and the customer.'
This incident follows the tragic death of 73-year-old Geoff Kitchen from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, on a Singapore Airlines flight in May 2024. That aircraft hit severe turbulence, causing a 'dramatic drop' that launched unsecured passengers into the ceiling. Mr Kitchen suffered a suspected heart attack, seven others were seriously injured, and dozens more had minor wounds.
