View Full Version : UA flight diverted following turbulence incident
Anti Skid On
1st May 2002, 10:40
Just been on the local news, UA flight (?862) from SYD to SFO due to land at AKL (apparently diverted back there), several passengers badly injured (one with serious head injuries) due to turbulence en route; will update if more is announced.
timmcat
1st May 2002, 11:59
Bit more detail here..
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=1843018&thesection=news&thesubsection=general
It happened just south of NOU (Noumea). They continued on for about an hour before diverting to AKL. There are also a few 744 suitable airports in the Cooks, so it cant be all that bad to go to AKL. Mind you, quality of care might be better there..or not.:confused:
ajamieson
1st May 2002, 12:37
Still not much running on the wires...
AP-fltr-010502-13:21-PA/HOME
United Airlines flight diverts to New Zealand after hitting severe turbulence; several injured
Eds: ADDS type of aircraft in graf 3; ADDS number of passengers and crew on flight, and changes attribution in graf 4; ADDS quote in graf 5; Minor edits
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – A United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco detoured to Auckland late Wednesday after several passengers were injured when the plane hit severe turbulence over the Pacific Ocean, an airline spokesman said.
Television news bulletins in New Zealand said up to seven passengers were believed to have suffered broken bones and that one had a severe head injury.
Ambulance crews rushed to Auckland Airport to assess the passengers. The Boeing 747-400 touched down in Auckland at 10:55 p.m. (1055 GMT).
Airline spokesman in Auckland, Jonathan Tudor, told The Associated Press that United Airlines flight 862, carrying 269 passengers and 21 crew, had taken off from Sydney at 3:35 p.m. New Zealand time (0335 GMT) and flew into “clear air turbulence” after about four hours.
“It was sudden and unexpected, people had no warning,” he said.
Tudor confirmed that some passengers and crew had been injured but said he did not know how many or how badly they were hurt.
Those who were uninjured would be housed overnight in Auckland hotels overnight, he added.
A spokesman at the airport told The Associated Press four ambulances were at the scene but could not immediately provide any more details.
No further details were immediately available.
mfl
Centaurus
1st May 2002, 13:37
CAT or TCWA ? (Tilt control wrong angle!)
Wednesday May 1, 1:49 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: United Airlines
United Airlines Statement On Flight 862
CHICAGO, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines (NYSE: UAL - news) today issued the following statement regarding a clear-air turbulence incident overnight onboard UA Flight 862, a Boeing 747-400 from Sydney, Australia to San Francisco:
"United can confirm that flight UA862, a Boeing 747-400 that departed Sydney on May 1st at 1:35PM (Sydney time) encountered clear-air turbulence approximately three hours into its flight. Clear-air turbulence is not currently detectable by even the industry's most sophisticated weather technology. The flight diverted to Auckland Airport in New Zealand and landed safely without further incident at 11:06PM (Auckland time).
"United Airlines staff at Auckland airport met flight UA862 when the aircraft arrived and ambulances were standing by to transport injured crewmembers and customers to local hospitals. Seven injuries were reported, including two United Flight Attendants. Four of the five have what local medical officials called minor injuries such as cuts, bruises and lacerations. The fifth, a crew member, suffered multiple fractures and has been classified in a moderate condition, at an Auckland Hospital. Two of the injured taken to the hospital have been treated and released. The remaining two passengers were treated at the airport on arrival before being taken with the other passengers to local hotels.
"The safety of passengers and crew is always the company's number one priority. United's teams in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. worked closely with the crew to establish a response plan that enabled the aircraft to land as soon as possible so as to ensure that all injuries were dealt with quickly.
"United over-nighted the customers and crew in Auckland, New Zealand and the flight is scheduled to depart Auckland, May 2nd at 6:30PM (Auckland time) with a 10:55AM (pacific time) scheduled arrival in San Francisco.
"There were 269 passengers and 21 crew members onboard flight 862."
SOURCE: United Airlines