Severe Turbulence on EVA Air Flight: Six Flight Attendants Injured
Last week, an incident occurred on EVA Air flight BR 238, traveling from Jakarta to Taipei, involving severe turbulence. Approximately two hours into the flight, at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the plane suddenly encountered a turbulent zone, leading to significant disturbances onboard.
The incident took place during meal service. As a result of the abrupt shaking of the aircraft, six flight attendants sustained minor injuries. One of them narrowly avoided serious injury thanks to a quick-thinking passenger who grabbed their arm and prevented them from hitting the ceiling. Although the passengers were unharmed, they experienced the full brunt of the situation: meals and drinks were scattered throughout the cabin, and some overhead bins were disrupted.
Despite the chaos, the pilots managed to stabilize the situation, and the flight safely landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 9:16 p.m. local time. Following the incident, EVA Air issued a statement urging all passengers to keep their seat belts fastened throughout the flight, even when the seat belt sign is turned off.
Experts suggest that such turbulence, known as "clear air turbulence," is becoming more frequent due to climate change. These turbulent zones are impossible to predict, even with modern onboard radar systems. Specialists warn that with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by global warming, the likelihood of such incidents will rise.
Turbulence is classified into four levels: light, moderate, severe, and extreme. While serious damage to aircraft is rare, passengers are advised to follow all safety precautions to avoid injuries in the event of sudden turbulence. Specifically, maintaining a seated position with a fastened seat belt and feet firmly on the floor can help prevent spinal and tailbone injuries.