Air New Zealand Airbus A320 Hit By Turbulence Leaving Two Injured

An Air New Zealand A320 encountered severe turbulence over the South Island on Sunday, resulting in two people being sent to the hospital. This incident, though not as severe as recent turbulence episodes on Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways flights, highlights the ongoing risks associated with inflight turbulence.

The Air New Zealand aircraft was on a domestic flight from Wellington to Queenstown when the turbulence struck about 15 minutes into the journey. During cabin service, a passenger was scalded by hot coffee, and a flight attendant suffered moderate injuries after hitting the cabin ceiling. The affected flight, NZ607, was met by two ambulances upon landing in Queenstown, and both injured individuals were transported to Lakes District Hospital in moderate condition.

Chief Operational and Safety Officer Captain David Morgan of Air New Zealand emphasized the airline's commitment to safety, stating, "The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority, and our crew are trained to respond to these situations." He noted that clear-air turbulence, which cannot always be detected by flight crew, can still pose significant risks, and the airline continuously reviews its procedures to ensure safety.

Passengers on the flight shared their experiences, describing the turbulence as unexpectedly intense. One passenger recounted how the coffee pot spilled over a lady, causing burns that required paramedic attention. Another passenger described how a flight attendant was thrown into the ceiling due to the jolt.

Despite the severity of the turbulence, the Airbus A320-200, registration ZK-OXH, continued to operate additional flights the same day, indicating that the aircraft itself sustained no damage from the incident.

The incident occurred shortly after similar severe turbulence episodes on flights operated by Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, prompting renewed discussions about air safety and the importance of remaining seated during flights. Such events underscore the unpredictable nature of turbulence and the critical need for stringent safety protocols to protect passengers and crew.