EasyJet: severe turbulence injures crew

[Flying-Jock]

FYI

EasyJet flight crew ?hit the ceiling? leaving one with a fractured hip after heavy turbulence - UK - News - The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/easyjet-flight-crew-hit-the-ceiling-leaving-one-with-a-fractured--hip-after-heavy-turbulence-9706303.html)

Terror as turbulence on easyJet flight leaves steward unconscious and another with 'broken hip' | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2740488/Newleyweds-terrifying-turbulence-easyJet-flight-Gatwick-honeymoon-Italy.html)

Must be bad if it was reported in the Daily Mail .... not seen any reports in any of the aviation blogs

[crewmeal]

The flight from Gatwick on Monday was originally travelling to Naples, but the captain decided to divert the plane’s flight path and land in Rome in order to avoid heavy thunderstorms close to Naples.

Why weren't the crew strapped in to avoid these injuries? Were the cabin crew sufficiently briefed about the turbulence? Questions need to be answered.

[INeedTheFull90]

Ever heard of clear air turbulence?

[crewmeal]

Both papers state that there were heavy storms in the area. Nothing to do with CAT.

[easyflyer83]

If we were strapped in everytime we entered an area where storms were present we'd never get any work done. Have you seen the Adriatic, for instance, in mid summer?

[crewmeal]

Remember you're there for safety not service. Sorry but commission on bar sales has to take second place when there are storms around where ever you are in the world.

[INeedTheFull90]

Oh come on you're not seriously suggesting the crew were selling to make a couple of pence commission whilst flying in turbulence.

From the reports whatever happened happened quickly without warning. As flight crew we spend a lot of the time avoiding the chop so we can maintain a safe and comfortable flight for passengers.

The service and sales does aspect does not cross my mind. In late summer in Europe you can get many storms which you navigate around.

If you're downwind of them then you can get a little chop and there's always a risk of turbulence associated with the topography. Remember thunderstorms need a lifting action in order to form, and in many occasions that lifting action is the hills. The area is pretty hilly.

Further more this aircraft was in decent to NAP. The cabin crew would have been in the cabin preparing it for landing and not selling.

There have been many incidents of crew been injured in turbulence during a service working for airlines the crew don't earn commission on. So your suggestion they got injured trying to sell is offensive and very cynical.

[crewmeal]

Oh come on you're not seriously suggesting the crew were selling to make a couple of pence commission whilst flying in turbulence.

No!

From the reports whatever happened happened quickly without warning

Pilots would recognise that there were/are thunderstorms in the area. When I used to fly cabin crew were always warned about possible turburlance and were expected to strap in where necessary.

Further more this aircraft was in decent to NAP. The cabin crew would have been in the cabin preparing it for landing and not selling.

Agreed. I never said they were selling on this particular flight. It was a general comment. perhaps I should have said cabin service rather than selling!

[Pace]

Terror as turbulence on easyJet flight leaves steward unconscious and another with 'broken hip' | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2740488/Newleyweds-terrifying-turbulence-easyJet-flight-Gatwick-honeymoon-Italy.html)

severe turbulence on easyJet honeymoon leaves one steward unconscious and another with 'broken hip' after they were flung at plane ceiling

[cookie4152]

Well, y'know, cabin crew are (almost) always advised to be seated, cease service etc with anticipated turbulence. Trouble is, importance is given to customer service....paramountly. And tech crew PA's ignored.
In the "olden days", when the Captain was in charge, a PA to be seated was adhered to. Time to revisit those times? Worked well.......

[justnightstopping]

The cabin crew were securing the cabin during the descent when the turbulence hit. The Captain had just illuminated the fasten seatbelt signs and asked the crew to prepare the cabin for landing, as per SOP.
All real cabin crew (there seems to be a lot of wannabes with a big mouth here) have been through bad weather and 99% of the time the turbulence is light to moderate. And anyone who has been flying more than two days knows that it is very hard to predict turbulence accurately. This is an unfortunate incident and it will be interesting to read the CAA's report.
I work for EZY and our pilots are very good when it comes to cabin safety. We have excellent CRM and if they feel there is a risk they will tell us to be seated immediately over the PA.

[average-punter]

Excellent post from justnightstopping

Any PA from the flight deck telling cabin crew to be immediately seated at easyJet would be taken very seriously and carried out immediately.