Airplane Turbulence Is Getting Worse, Here's What That Means for You

[Coventina]

Turbulence is getting worse on airplanes, and this week a severe case of turbulence caused the death of a 73-year-old passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight traveling from London to Singapore. The man died after the plane encountered "clear-air turbulence" which is turbulence that doesn't appear on flight radars. The plane flew into the turbulence without any warning, causing the plane to lose nearly 6,000 feet in altitude in less than three minutes.

The 73-year-old man died due to a heart attack. His wife was injured in the incident, along with 52 other passengers. Seven of the injured passengers were in critical condition, according to Euro News. The flight made an emergency landing in Bangkok, where emergency services started immediately tended to the injured. Photos shared on social media show flight attendants with bloodied faces and a destroyed cabin covered in food and debris.

This isn't the only turbulence incident to make headlines for causing injuries. Last February, seven passengers on a Lufthansa flight were hospitalized after experiencing severe turbulence on a flight from Austin, Texas to Frankfurt, Germany, only 90 minutes after takeoff. The plane was grounded at Washington Dulles, where passengers (including actor Matthew McConaughey, randomly) were rebooked on flights. That same week, 20 people were reported injured on a flight from Germany to Mauritius. Just last month, a United flight from San Francisco to Boston was diverted to Denver because it encountered turbulence so severe that one of the airplane's wings was damaged.

I don't intend to terrify you or exacerbate any existing flying anxieties—but sticking one's head in the ground won't stop turbulence from affecting you in the future. The data and experts both agree that flying is actually safer than ever right now, despite stories like the above. Still, turbulence is a major factor impacting the flying experience today. Here's what to know about turbulence getting worse in 2024.

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/airplane-turbulence-getting-worse-how-to-stay-safe

******************************************************

I might be pushing my luck, but I don't think this information is "owned" by Thrillist:

In North America, these were the flight routes with the most turbulence in 2023:
1. Nashville (BNA) - Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
2. Charlotte (CLT) - Pittsburgh (PIT)
3. Denver (DEN) - Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
4. New York (JFK) - Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
5. Warwick (PVD) - Syracuse (SYR)
6. Atlanta (ATL) - Dulles (IAD)
7. Pittsburgh (PIT) - Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
8. New York (LGA) - Portland (PWM)
9. Boston (BOS) - Syracuse (SYR)
10. Boston (BOS) - Philadelphia (PHL)

[EllieBC]

1. Dumb question here.

When it says Denver to Puerto Vallarta do they mean that route in specific or any route Denver to south?

I ask because it was my understanding that turbulence in the Rockies is always a thing and Denver is known for it. Also I am flying Denver-> Austin this summer and now I’m panicked.

[Think. Again.]

7. Panicked?

(our evil plan is working perfectly!, heh heh heh heh)

[EllieBC]

9. I fly a few times per year.

I do get anxious right before but it usually coincides with these articles. The ones I should stop clicking on.

[Think. Again.]

12. I wish you the most enjoyable trip ever!

(It's the airports before the flight that freak me out!)

[EllieBC]

14. Airports used to be exciting to me.

Now they are all frustration, overheating, and just generally unpleasant. And lines. Lines, lines, lines.

[Aristus]

16. I just flew in to Seattle from Denver.

We had some turbulence flying in over the Rockies last week. Then some flying out this morning, and again coming over the Cascades on the way home. It either wasn't too bad, I'm getting used to the turbulence, or I was sufficiently stoned on Valium that I just didn't care. Or possibly all three...

[brush]

2. I'm curious if the man who died was in his seat with the seat belt buckled?

Or was he in the aisle or restroom, or waiting at the restroom door?

If he was in his seat and buckled, there's not much that can be done if a flight ecounters clear air turbulence.

[ForgedCrank]

6. The unfortunate

reality is that you are probably right. Few people take the airplane seat belt as seriously as it should be. Most turbulence is avoided via weather tracking and pilot intercommunication and they generally do their best to avoid hot spots. But, it can (and does) still happen without warning. If severe enough, you'd better be strapped into your seat and hope there aren't a bunch of loose, heavy items lying around unsecured.

[Delphinus]

25. Unless

I am in the bathroom, I am in my seat with the seatbelt on. I don't have a huge fear of flying, but I feel safe with it on.

[drmeow]

20. he died of a heart attack

not from being thrown around the plane

[brush]

23. The heart attack may have occured from the shock of the plane suddenly plunging 6000 feet...

in altitude. If he was standing, or sitting, IMO that sudden plunge could've induced the heart attack.

Others could've been hurt if not buckled in. The article does mention flight attendants with bloodied, facial injuries from objects flying around in the air.

[ForgedCrank]

3. I'm calling

nonsense on this article. Has all the indicators of fear porn.
Turbulence isn't a measured statistic, and only serious incidents that are caused by turbulence are ever recorded for any reason.

[drmeow]

21. Did you read it? nt

[ForgedCrank]

22. I did.

A short term spike does not a trend establish. Statistics don't work that way, and in this case, there are no statistics present at all because that data is not something that is recorded.
Even as sad as it is that someone died, it's still a click-bait fear mongering write-up based on nothing.

[drmeow]

24. It would be helpful

to have included these types of details in your original post.

Providing a deeper explanation for your skepticism is helpful to people as it helps them learn how identify problematic articles themselves.

[ForgedCrank]

27. I did.

"Turbulence isn't a measured statistic, and only serious incidents that are caused by turbulence are ever recorded for any reason."

[drmeow]

32. Insufficient nt

[ForgedCrank]

33. I'll do

my best to up my game so my posts can meet your standards. I realize now that I'll have to do all of the thinking when I post something.
Please accept my apologies for being inadequate.

[Think. Again.]

5. Is "...Here's What That Means For You"...

...just a new tagline the media adds to any headline, like "...What Happened Next Will Shock You"?

[True Dough]

34. How do they even know what it will mean for us?

What if we never step foot on a plane again? That will foil their click-bait approach!

[wryter2000]

8. Thanks

I always have my seat belt buckled unless I have to use the restroom. I'll try to make that as short as I can. I didn't know there was such a thing as blind turbulence.

[Coventina]

10. Me too. I'm always buckled, with my shoes on.

Except for "comfort breaks"

I am a very nervous flyer, and I will do anything in my power to make myself feel safer.

[beaglelover]

13. It's gross when I see people walking around an airplane with no shoes on. Don't they know how disgustingly dirty the

carpets are on an airplance.

[beaglelover]

11. Just keep your seatbelt fastened and you'll be fine. I highly doubt turbulence is getting any worse.

[Wonder Why]

15. It's not a problem. We take Amtrak on our trips. No problems with air turbulance - just trespassers on the track.

[Blue Owl]

17. I hope "tRump Force One" gets to experience it during its next flight

Right while Diarrhea Donny is plopped down on his golden cabin toilet — BLAMMO!

[Blues Heron]

18. with more energy in the atmosphere due to global heating, its not surprising.

there is a connection between global heating, more powerful and taller thunderstorms, stronger winds and yes, more turbulence.

this is not your daddy`s atmosphere.

buckle up folks, its going to be a rough ride from here on out.

[True Dough]

35. If it was my daddy's atmosphere

it would be full of cigarette smoke!

[Jilly_in_VA]

19. What it means is

don't be an idiot. Keep your seat belt buckled and your shoes on. Duh.

[RussBLib]

26. Exactly.

Last edited Wed May 22, 2024, 11:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Keep yer damn seat belt on, but if it's your time, it's your time.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

[cliffside]

28. Kick and rec, article below ...

There are many articles on this subject.


Evidence for Large Increases in Clear-Air Turbulence Over the Past Four Decades

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023gl103814


"Key Points

Clear-air turbulence (CAT) diagnosed from reanalysis data has increased over the satellite era

The increases are largest over the USA and North Atlantic, which are both busy flight regions

Severe-or-greater CAT increased the most, becoming 55% more frequent in 2020 than 1979

Plain Language Summary
Turbulence is unpleasant to fly through in an aircraft. Strong turbulence can even injure air passengers and flight attendants. An invisible form called clear-air turbulence (CAT) is predicted to become more frequent because of climate change. Here we analyze modern atmospheric data based on four decades of observations (1979–2020) to investigate whether CAT has already started to increase. We use 21 different turbulence calculations to ensure our results are as reliable as possible. We find clear evidence of large CAT increases in various places around the world at aircraft cruising altitudes since satellites began observing the atmosphere. For example, at a typical point over the North Atlantic, the upward trend is such that the strongest category of CAT was 55% more frequent in 2020 than 1979. Our study represents the best evidence yet that CAT has increased over the past four decades, consistent with the expected effects of climate change."

[ecstatic]

29. Seems like a perfect storm is brewing

I've never been afraid to fly but damn... we have old airplanes, or new, poorly designed airplanes, now we have to add the increase of turbulence due to global warming.

How did a wing get damaged from thin air?!

[Dave says]

30. Dropped 3,000 feet

About 15 years ago, I was flying from LaGuardia (NY). When flying over Des Moines, we hit unexpected turbulence. We dropped 3,000+ feet in about 3 minutes. No one got hurt, but no one said a word during our fall. All we could hear was the sound of the jet engines. The pilots and flight crew didn’t give an explanation until we landed (I guess they didn’t want to add to passenger anxiety). Personally, I felt thrilled, not panicked (weird, huh?).

[Melon]

31. I say......hogwash

Flew late 80’s and 90’s extensively. Fly multiple times a month and international. Injuries from turbulence have always happened and it’s been rare the last decade. Radar and storm avoidance has only gotten better. Flights used to be bad on the regular… now bad turbulence or anything past bumpy is very rare.