Europe



Turbulence was so severe on a flight from Gatwick airport that a member of the cabin crew broke an ankle, an air accident report has revealed.

Gatwick Airport London

Gatwick Airport London Image by Lucy Fisher / CC BY 2.0

Another cabin crew member suffered severe bruising when the easyJet Airbus A320 ran into the turbulence, in a clear sky, as it descended towards Milan’s Malpensa airport.

None of the 137 passengers was injured in the incident on the afternoon of January 30 this year, the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said.

The report said that in pre-flight preparations, the flight crew noted that only low levels of turbulence were forecast, “although there had been a report of severe turbulence over the Alps at FL (flight level) 220 (22,000ft)”.

The report went on: “During the descent, the flight crew asked ATC (air traffic control) if there were any turbulence reports along their intended track and were told that light to moderate turbulence had been reported.

“The commander (captain) warned the cabin crew of the possibility of turbulence and instructed them to secure the cabin. A few minutes later, passing FL220, the aircraft had two brief but severe clear-air turbulence encounters in quick succession.”

The AAIB continued: “Two members of the cabin crew were injured in the turbulence encounters so the flight crew arranged for medical staff to meet the aircraft on its arrival.

“The injured crew members were taken to hospital where one was found to have suffered a broken ankle and the other severe bruising.”

(Press Association)