Posted on 02/20/2010 12:16:02 PM PST by libh8er
A United Airlines Boeing 747-400, registration N173UA performing flight UA-897 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Tokyo Narita (Japan) with 227 passengers and 18 crew, was enroute overhead Alaska about 70nm east of Anchorage descending from FL320 to FL300, when the airplane encountered turbulence causing injuries to 18 people on board. The airplane continued to Tokyo's Narita Airport, where the airplane landed safely about 7 hours later.
Japanese Police reported, that one passenger received serious injuries (fractured leg), 17 occupants received minor injuries.
Japan's Transport Ministry reported, that the airplane was descending from FL320 to FL300, when it encountered the turbulence at about FL315. The crew had activated the fasten seat belt sign about 10 seconds prior to the turbulence.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL897/history/20100219/1746Z/KIAD/RJAA
(from user comments to the original story):
@Eduardo Ribeiro
By Old Engineer on Saturday, Feb 20th 2010 14:50Z
There is presently a jet stream in the Alaskan airspace. It’s hitting the southern Alaskan coast from the Pacific in a northerly direction and proceding clockwise in a horse shoe shape to the northern coast of the continent and from there down through western Canada. On the 19th the wind speeds were between 90 and 110 Kts at the 300 hPa level (about 30100 feet). If this was the cause of this accident we don’t know of course, as the report does not mention the exact location and FL when it happened. Occasionally CAT can occur totally unexpected.
Just missed it
By KRB on Saturday, Feb 20th 2010 13:04Z
My co-worker who was on the flight says it rolled suddenly and dropped. There was a small precursor, so he was in his seat with his belt fastened, but many people were still in the aisles, as were some service carts. My other co-worker hit her head on the ceiling and was taken to the Narita medical center for examination, but is unhurt other than bruising. I flew the same route two days ago, although much further north. We had moderate chop climbing out of IAD and descending through 10,000 ft near NRT, but it was smooth over Alaska.
Looks like a good lawsuit there. About 15 minutes from medical care, and they flew on cross-Pacific before getting help for the seriously injured passenger. I expect the settlement check to be larger than the cost of the fuel for a landing and take off.
“Turbulence, though rare, can be unexpected and sometimes severe so while you are in your seats keep your seat belts fastened.” Pay attention to the announcements! Its your a#$!.
Certainly my first thought, what in the world are they doing continuing the flight, when they should have landed in Anchorage. Unless they specifically asked the passenger in question what he/she wanted to do, and even then, it isn’t really their decision, but the captain’s.
Japanese Police reported, that one passenger received serious injuries (fractured leg)
If the injured person was Japanese, he/she may have wanted to get home for medical care. They may not have wanted to be left in Alaska. But, these flights are normally miserable. This last 7 hours had to be exceptionally so.
Oh god I would be afraid to if I opened the shade and Helen Thomas was staring at me... UGH SHIVERS!
I fly every week.It has save me from one or two bumps on my head.
No sympathy for people who do not heed the “fasten seat belt” announcement and sign.
You’re deliberately tempting somebody to post a picture like that aren’t you? And now, I’m going to have to keep checking this thread until somebody does.
My belt is always fastened when I'm seated, for this very reason.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but it seems like the amount of turbulence is up significantly in, oh, the past three years or so.
I was amazed when we flew to Germany last year how many people let their kids run loose on the plane the whole flight. I kept mine fastened the whole time (except for rest breaks).
I think the reason is that the airlines, by trying to cut down on fuel useage and keep to their flight timetables, are flying through turbulence that, in the past, they might have tried to fly around to avoid.
It isn't the turbulence that scares me either ... it's what goes along with it ..
Not just fastened, but fastened tight.
About 33 years ago, I was on the NY to DC Shuttle (LaGuardia to Washington National, which is now Reagan), with my belt fastened, but loosely. We hit some turbulence suddenly, the aircraft dropped a bit, and the top of my head hit the overhead. Big ouch, but lesson learned.
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