Continental Airlines B767 Hit Turbulence

[Yusoff 1]

From CNN:

 

(CNN) -- Severe turbulence shook a Continental Airlines flight Monday, injuring dozens of passengers and forcing the aircraft to divert to Miami, Florida, according to the airline and a fire official.

 

There were 168 passengers and 11 crew members on Flight 128, which was heading from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, according to a statement from Continental Airlines.

 

"I've never seen turbulence like that, so I really thought we wouldn't make it," passenger Giovani Loss told CNN affiliate WSVN-TV. Loss, who is originally from Brazil, said he is a lawyer in the United States and frequently travels between the two countries.

 

He said passengers were afraid the turbulence may have been the result of mechanical problems with the plane.

 

"People [were] screaming, then there was a huge silence for like 30 minutes," Loss said.

 

Ambulances and other vehicles were lined up on the runway to treat and transport the injured passengers when the plane landed at Miami International Airport at 5:35 a.m.

 

"People that weren't seat belted in flew up and hit the ceilings," passenger John Norwood told WSVN. "So their faces, their heads hit the plastics and broke all the plastics up top."

 

Continental said seven passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, and approximately 28 other passengers were treated at the scene. Lt. Elkin Sierra of the Miami-Dade Fire Department said 26 passengers were injured, including four seriously.

 

The Boeing 767-200 hit turbulence about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic at about 38,000 feet, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration. It landed in Miami an hour later with its seat belt signs illuminated, the airline said.

 

Many of the passengers said they did not hear any warning before the turbulence hit.

 

Injuries received included bumps, bruises, neck pain and back pain, Sierra said.

 

Passengers said they saw several people bleeding from their heads, including one woman who sustained a serious gash to her head.

 

The flight is scheduled to depart Miami for Houston later in the morning, according to Continental's Web site. It had been scheduled to arrive in Houston at 6 a.m. local time.

Some of them reminded of the AF incident.

 

From AVHerald:

 

Accident: Continental B762 over Caribbean on Aug 3rd 2009, severe turbulence injures 26

By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Aug 3rd 2009 12:25Z, last updated Monday, Aug 3rd 2009 16:08Z

 

A Continental Airlines Boeing 767-200, registration N76156 performing flight CO-128 from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to Houston,TX (USA) with 168 passengers and 11 crew, was enroute at FL380 about 50nm north of the Dominican Republic and 600nm from Miami, when the airplane encountered severe turbulence. A number of people on board received injuries, 4 of them severe injuries. The airplane diverted to Miami,FL (USA), where the airplane landed safely about 85 minutes later.

 

Miami emergency services reported 26 injuries, 4 of them serious, the airplane was received by ambulances and medical staff taking care of the injured after landing.

 

Continental Airlines said, that 9 people were brought to local hospitals and 28 others treated at the airport.

 

The FAA reported 4 serious and 22 minor injuries.

 

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/COA128/history/20090803/0055Z/SBGL/KMIA

[Pieter C. 5]

:Again: have your seatbelts loosely fastened while seated !!!

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

:Again: have your seatbelts loosely fastened while seated !!!

 

I'm totally agree with you,Uncle Pieter!

[Yusoff 1]

"Seat belt are for take off and landing and because the FA asked to put on. They restrict movement so, why bother put on while cruising? If plane to hit turbulence, pilot should give warning or else, we see you in court..."

[Azreen 0]

"Seat belt are for take off and landing and because the FA asked to put on. They restrict movement so, why bother put on while cruising? If plane to hit turbulence, pilot should give warning or else, we see you in court..."

 

 

Ha ha haa Yusoff, dats true if u happen to live to tell the tale!!