eal401
4th Feb 2003, 08:22
I have a question regarding the appropriate procedure following an incident of severe turbulence.
A friend recently flew back from MLE in the Maldives to LGW with Monarch. The aircraft used was an A300, I believe it should usually be an A330. Approximately four hours into the flight, the aircraft experienced two bouts of severe CAT, bad enough to bounce people and drinks trolleys off the ceiling. Apparantly, the aftermath, as far as my friend could establish, was one of the passengers was injured by a trolley and may have suffered a broken hip. I can't confirm that for certain. He also stated that at least two of the cabin crew were knocked unconscious and a further four were injured or shaken to the extent that they were unable to continue with their duties. This left four cabin crew working.
With 361 seats, the minimum requirement for cabin crew is eight. My question is what action should the captain have taken with that flight?
What he actually did was continue the flight (for 6 1/2 hours) to LGW where the aircraft was met at the gate by paramedics, 2 who dealt with the injured passenger and 6 who dealt with the cabin crew.
Speaking with a colleague who has flight ops experience, he expressed considerable surprise at the fact the flight continued to destination, something I had already considered myself.
I just wanted to get some other views on the subject.
A friend recently flew back from MLE in the Maldives to LGW with Monarch. The aircraft used was an A300, I believe it should usually be an A330. Approximately four hours into the flight, the aircraft experienced two bouts of severe CAT, bad enough to bounce people and drinks trolleys off the ceiling. Apparantly, the aftermath, as far as my friend could establish, was one of the passengers was injured by a trolley and may have suffered a broken hip. I can't confirm that for certain. He also stated that at least two of the cabin crew were knocked unconscious and a further four were injured or shaken to the extent that they were unable to continue with their duties. This left four cabin crew working.
With 361 seats, the minimum requirement for cabin crew is eight. My question is what action should the captain have taken with that flight?
What he actually did was continue the flight (for 6 1/2 hours) to LGW where the aircraft was met at the gate by paramedics, 2 who dealt with the injured passenger and 6 who dealt with the cabin crew.
Speaking with a colleague who has flight ops experience, he expressed considerable surprise at the fact the flight continued to destination, something I had already considered myself.
I just wanted to get some other views on the subject.