Passengers on a domestic flight of Indian LCC SpiceJet had a harrowing time yesterday as the airplane encountered turbulence during descent. The plane shook so hard that many passengers sustained severe injuries from falling objects. Thankfully, the 737 landed safely, with no casualties reported.

Terrifying moments

On May 1st, a SpiceJet Boeing 737-800 aircraft (VT-SLH) was on a routine flight between Mumbai and Durgapur. The plane took off at 17:13 for its 2+ hour flight across the country from west to east. The initial part of the flight was incident-free, but things took a different hue during descent when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence.

Hindustan Times has tweeted a video, reportedly taken on the flight, which shows the plane's floor littered with all kinds of things from cups, bottles, and packages. Oxygen masks were seen hanging, and part of the aircraft ceiling also appeared damaged.

A SpiceJet spokesperson released a statement about the incident, saying,

"On May 1, SpiceJet Boeing B737 aircraft operating flight SG-945 from Mumbai to Durgapur encountered severe turbulence during descent which unfortunately resulted in injuries to a few passengers. Immediate medical assistance was provided upon the aircraft's arrival in Durgapur.”

Several injured

While airplanes witnessing mild jolts isn’t uncommon, there are times when things take a turn for the worse, and anything or anyone unfastened is at the risk of being thrown around. Yesterday’s SpiceJet flight reportedly hit a rough patch shortly before landing.

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The aircraft shook so violently that cabin luggage fell on passengers, with some requiring stitches later on. At least 14 passengers and three crew members were harmed in the incident, with many sustaining severe injuries. Thankfully, nobody is said to be in danger anymore.

A DGCA official reacted by saying,

"Some of the passengers sustained head injuries and received stitches, while one passenger said he suffered a spinal injury in the mishap. We are deputing teams for regulatory investigation, while medical reports of the injured passengers are awaited."

Speaking with India Today, many passengers described the tense moments before landing, saying that the aircraft shook up and down so severely it felt that it could flip over. Another passenger who sustained head injuries said they complied with the flight crew’s instructions and tightly strapped themselves, but many passengers’ seat belts tore off during the hard landing.

Turbulence

The dreaded word can frighten many flyers, and while most turbulence ends after minor bumps and jerks, it can sometimes escalate to more difficult situations. So, what exactly causes turbulence?

Simple Flying has done an in-depth investigation into different kinds of turbulence, which explains that it can come in several forms, such as thermal turbulence (caused by a rising column of warm air), wake vortex turbulence (from behind another) aircraft, and mechanical turbulence (occurs when there is friction between the air and the ground.

While incidents like these can indeed be distressing, there’s comfort in the fact that flying has consistently been cited as one of the safest means of transportation in the world. Here’s hoping that the injured passengers on the SpiceJet flight recover soon.

Have you ever encountered severe turbulence in flight? Do share in the comment section below.