A recent incident involving a Qantas flight revealed significant safety concerns during severe turbulence. The aircraft, which was flying from Sydney to Brisbane, experienced turbulence as it was descending, leading to one cabin crew member sustaining a broken ankle. This resulted in four passengers, including an off-duty crew member and a doctor, leaving their seats to assist the injured staff member, thereby increasing the risk of further injuries.
Investigators determined that the flight’s captain likely underestimated the severity of the turbulence and failed to adequately inform the cabin crew about the conditions during descent. Consequently, the cabin crew were busy ensuring passengers’ safety, such as checking on seatbelt compliance, when the turbulence struck. According to Dr Stuart Godley, Director of Transport Safety at ATSB, it is standard procedure for the customer service manager to alert crew members if the cabin is not secured for landing. However, after the manager notified the captain about the injuries and standing passengers, the captain did not recall receiving requests for additional preparation time before landing.
After the event, the captain directed all uninjured passengers and crew to return to their seats, not recognising the implications for safety. The ATSB report highlighted that 80% of serious turbulence-related injuries occur among cabin crew, particularly during cabin preparation for landing. This incident raised concerns about the communication breakdown regarding the cabin’s status, which could lead to misaligned decision-making in emergency situations.
The turbulence occurred on May 4, and while one crew member was treated for their ankle injury upon landing, others developed symptoms later; one experienced a concussion and the other sustained facial injuries. In response, Qantas has revised its protocols to ensure better communication between cabin crew and medical staff when significant injuries occur. The airline is also implementing enhanced measures to evaluate crew members’ fitness following turbulence events.
Qantas has not yet issued a public statement regarding this incident, though such reforms are essential to enhancing safety for both passengers and crew.