17 June 2024 , 11:59
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Severe turbulence on an international flight left one passenger with burns and catapulted one staff member to the aircraft ceiling.
New Zealand Airlines flight NZ607 was en route from Wellington to Queenstown when it experienced intense shakes, leaving two people with "moderate" injuries. The incident saw two ambulances called to meet the plane at its final destination after paramedics were called to treat one woman on the aircraft.
The turbulence reportedly hit as flight attendants served hot beverages, with the shakes sending one cup of coffee falling onto a female passenger. Speaking to New Zealand publication RNZ, the woman who was injured told how she received burns to her abdomen and back.
The plane was met by two ambulances after it arrived (AFP via Getty Images)She said: "There's nothing you can do. You're strapped in, you want to stay strapped in, there could be more turbulence and then you've got to deal with the level of burns you've just received. I was able to get hold of a bottle of cold water and start dousing myself and I was able to speak to the hostess who was still lying on the floor and said 'is it alright if I get water everywhere cos that's what I'm going to be doing?' and she said 'go for it'.
A crew member was also injured when the turbulence sent them into the aircraft's roof. The NZ Herald reported that the two were taken from the aircraft and escorted to the nearby Lake District Hospital in a "moderate" condition.
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Captain David Morgan, Air New Zealand chief of operational integrity and safety, confirmed the injuries in a statement on Sunday. He told the Daily Mail Australia that turbulence can sometimes occur when "rough air is not visible to the flight crew".
He said: "The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority, and our crew are trained to respond to these situations. Our operating procedures outline our onboard response to different levels of turbulence, including detailing when passengers and crew are required to take their seats during the flight.
"From time to time, clear-air turbulence can occur where rough air is not visible to the flight crew. We're always reviewing our operating procedures in line with both regulation and international best practices to ensure the safety of our customers and crew is prioritised."