In a shocking incident, a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin experienced severe turbulence over Turkey, resulting in injuries to six passengers and six crew members.
The aircraft, however, managed to land safely at Dublin Airport, as confirmed by Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport.
Cullinane stated, "Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely at Dublin Airport shortly before 13.00 on Sunday as scheduled. The aircraft was met by emergency services upon landing, including Dublin Airport's Police, Fire and Rescue services, due to 6 passengers and 6 crew [12 total] on board reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey earlier in the flight. The Dublin Airport team continues to provide full assistance on the ground to passengers and airline crew."
A spokesperson for Qatar Airways confirmed the incident, stating, "Qatar Airways can confirm that flight QR017 a Boeing B787-9 from Doha to Dublin has landed safely. A small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention. The matter is now subject to an internal investigation. The safety and security of our passengers and crew are our top priority."
Passengers on board described the terrifying experience. Adam Dalton, a game developer, likened the turbulence to a "rollercoaster drop," lasting three to five seconds, with food and drink scattered everywhere. Another passenger, identified only as Tom, reported panic on board when the turbulence hit. He criticized the captain for being slow to explain the situation, but praised the stewards for their response after the initial panic.
This incident follows a tragic event on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow to Singapore, where extreme turbulence resulted in the death of a British man and injuries to over 70 people. Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old musical theatre director from Gloucestershire, suffered a suspected heart attack during the incident. His wife, Linda, was among those seriously injured, suffering spinal injuries.
The couple was embarking on a six-week holiday to South East Asia, Indonesia, and Australia when the aircraft hit an air pocket and plummeted 6,000ft in just five minutes. The sudden drop caused chaos on board and forced the plane to make an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. Passengers reported little warning before the drop, with many sustaining injuries as they were thrown upwards.
Close friend Steve Dimond, 73, paid tribute to Mr. Kitchen, describing him as very fit, active, and involved with amateur dramatics. He said, "He was a good singer, a fine actor, he was on the committee, he loved musical theatre. He and his wife like live music, all sorts, folk jazz, everything. He's known his wife since they were teenagers, they are a lovely couple."
This is not the first time Qatar Airways has faced such a situation. In February last year, a Boeing Dreamliner from the airline came perilously close to crashing into the sea after taking off from Hamad International Airport in Doha. The aircraft, with the first officer in control, lost 1,000 feet within 24 seconds for unknown reasons. The captain managed to pull the aircraft up at around 800 feet above the Persian Gulf, narrowly averting disaster. An investigation was launched into the incident.
As these incidents highlight, ensuring passenger safety during air travel remains a critical concern. Investigations into these incidents will hopefully provide insights into preventing such occurrences in the future. This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
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