It’s the dread of even seasoned travelers.
The sudden drop from out of nowhere leaves you grasping for dear life onto anything nearby as you feel your stomach rise up into your throat and hear a collective gasp in the cabin.
Turbulence can be caused by any number of atmospheric conditions, such as cold fronts or jet streams. It’s unpredictable and can occur even when the skies are clear. While scientists debate the cause, there’s no denying that turbulence has increased.
Association of Flight Attendants spokesperson Taylor Garland predicted over a year ago that reports of heavy turbulence on flights “will only continue to grow,” due to severe weather conditions, adding that recent injuries over the summer could have been weather-related.
While deaths from airline turbulence are rare, such as on the recent Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence in May, injuries are becoming more common, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Data on the Federal Aviation Administration website showed 163 “serious turbulence injuries” from 2009-2022. The National Transportation Security Board classifies serious turbulence injuries as ones that include a minimum 48-hour hospital stay, broken bones, severe hemorrhages, damage to an internal organ, or second- or third-degree burns due to spilling of coffee or other hot liquids.
Because turbulence can occur without warning, experts say that the best way for passengers to guard against injury is to remain seated with their seatbelts buckled throughout their flights.
Fox Business reports on why a veteran pilot believes mandating seatbelt-wearing may not be the answer. Here’s the start of the story:
Turbulence has become more frequent. It’s a trend American Airlines Captain Dennis Tajer has experienced firsthand.
For the safety of his passengers, Tajer, a pilot for over 30 years, said it’s vital that they wear seat belts at all times while seated, even if it’s not mandated by law. It is for their protection, and the safety of those around them, Tajer told FOX Business.
According to a 2023 study by researchers at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, clear-air turbulence has increased in regions around the world. Over the North Atlantic, which is one of the busiest flight routes, the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020.
Moderate turbulence increased by 37%, and light turbulence increased by 17%. All the aforementioned increases were consistent with the effects of climate change, according to the study, which was published in Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers further noted that these
“Following a decade of research showing that climate change will increase clear-air turbulence in the future, we now have evidence suggesting that the increase has already begun,” Professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading who co-authored the study.