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Woman partially deaf on alleged AAsia fast flight

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An AirAsia passenger has claimed that she's been left almost deaf in her right ear because a pilot allegedly increased the speed of a flight from Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur to make up for lost time.

 

KL florist Wong Chan told Guang Ming Daily she now has only five percent of her hearing in her right ear and blames it on a bumpy flight on the low-cost carrier, which at one point included flying through turbulence.

 

She said the turbulence caused the passengers, including her husband and her son, to cover their ears to ease the discomfort from the cabin pressure.

She also said the flight on 8th May was delayed 40 minutes, departing China only at 9:30PM but arriving at the LCCT at its original time of 12:55AM on the 9th. which makes her believe the pilot flew the plane faster to catch up on time.


She said the pain in her ear lasted until she got home, and then her ear started to bleed. She told the paper she went to a clinic where she was given antibiotics, but when her condition stayed the same, she turned to a specialist.

 

"The doctor said my right eardrum was injured under the air pressure and I have to be treated for half a year, to observe whether it will heal by itself. If not, I would have to undergo a surgery to mend it," she said.

 

On top of the hearing loss, she said it feels as if her ear is always blocked and that it hurts whenever she coughs. She said because of her condition, she's unable to work and has to rely on painkillers and sleeping pills every night.

 

She said she was told to avoid flying for six months, meaning her travel plans to Bali, Phuket and Taiwan have been grounded. She said her son had bought her tickets as a Mother's Day gift and estimates the loss at around RM1,300.

 

"I hope AirAsia can compensate me, be it for my medical bill or the psychological impact caused by the incident," said Wong, 59, adding that she has sought the help of Teratai state assemblywoman Tiew Way Keng because she didn't have any flight insurance.


AirAsia has reportedly confirmed receiving the complaint, and a spokesperson issued a statement saying the airline "welcomes other passengers who face similar situations in the same flight to provide us with details".

 

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Flights to China are normally padded in terms of their block time, because of the frequent delays. I believe she's flying with a blocked sinus or some sort of a cold that unfortunately ruptured her eardrums on that day.

Edited by Walter Sim

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Frankly I don't really understand why people who are flying to places far away from home do not buy travel insurance, especially when booking on Airasia! You have to uncheck the travel insurance option to not buy it. So, if she does get anything out of Airasia, it would be a PR gesture and not a legal obligation.

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Frankly I don't really understand why people who are flying to places far away from home do not buy travel insurance, especially when booking on Airasia! You have to uncheck the travel insurance option to not buy it. So, if she does get anything out of Airasia, it would be a PR gesture and not a legal obligation.

 

Because for a typical infrequent traveller, it's of no use. Until the unthinkable happens.

 

It's typical human nature.

 

 

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It seems as if this events only happen on AK flights. How ignorant are they? Would they have said anything if it had been a MH or a Chinese carrier? Just wondering.

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It seems as if this events only happen on AK flights. How ignorant are they? Would they have said anything if it had been a MH or a Chinese carrier? Just wondering.

 

Because at the moment AK bashing is cool. Ever since the Vietnam incident every single thing about them has been amplified out of proportion.

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Because at the moment AK bashing is cool. Ever since the Vietnam incident every single thing about them has been amplified out of proportion.

Hahaha, yes everyone is on the bandwagon. However the Bursa Malaysia investors seem to think that their shares are worth buying - up to RM 3.50+ today...

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Because at the moment AK bashing is cool. Ever since the Vietnam incident every single thing about them has been amplified out of proportion.

I thought only since AOR offered his thoughts on 'apa lagi cina mahu' issue ? :)

 

 

..... a spokesperson issued a statement saying the airline "welcomes other passengers who face similar situations in the same flight to provide us with details".

Now that is class :D

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Flights to China are normally padded in terms of their block time, because of the frequent delays. I believe she's flying with a blocked sinus or some sort of a cold that unfortunately ruptured her eardrums on that day.

 

Agreed on the block sinus or some sort of cold, if you know you had cold then don't fly lah.

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Blocked sinus will cause unequalize pressure, result discomfort and even worse the tragedy above.

Lesson: Don't ever fly with flu or sinus. Get it medicated.

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Because at the moment AK bashing is cool. Ever since the Vietnam incident every single thing about them has been amplified out of proportion.

Not really... It is since Azran Osman Rani's spat with Utusan, and you know who is behind Utusan.

 

The first few cases are probably logical. But now they are out of logical incidents, so the incredible ones are now happening.

 

Anyway this must be one of the most stupid accusation I've ever heard.

 

Make me wonder how many passengers I've made deaf or even dead in the last 20 years or so, by increasing my cruise speed a bit more than econ or long range cruise speed.

Edited by Radzi

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That woman complained to some Guan Ming daily...How come suddenly Utusan's fault????

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Based on the details of her comments, she is seeking some compensation from the airline and by going to the press, she hopes her request would get some attention.

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Agreed on the block sinus or some sort of cold, if you know you had cold then don't fly lah.

Looks like she sustained barotrauma to her eardrum. Usually will heal, np. Anyway you could still fly if you have could or sinusitis, just yet the proper treatment prior to flying.

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I dont think the increasing of speed by the pilot have anything to do with rupturing of her ear drum. If they aircraft arrive late at LCCT, the other passengers who are in hurry might be mad for arriving late. Any AK pilots out there? Normally what is your setting for the cabin pressure?

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Normally what is your setting for the cabin pressure?

I'm not so sure what's the defaulted cabin pressurization rate on climb out. Since mucus on the Eustachian tube works like toothpaste in a tube ( easier to exit than into the tube ), the pain should not be on the climb out.

 

During cruise , at max cruising level of 39,000ft above mean sea level, cabin altitude is at 8000ft. For every decrease in 1000ft, cabin altitude minus 300ft.

 

During descend, I believe the the cabin altitude is defaulted to reduce at 350ft/min. In normal conditions, the cabin rate of descend is controlled by cabin pressure controllers , so to achieve equal pressure with the airfield on landing. The most I've seen is 500ft/min, once, accompanied with a caution message, very long time ago.

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