TSB warns air travellers to wear seatbelts

TORONTO• The Transportation Safety Board warned air travellers of the importance of wearing seatbelts as it released a report Monday that found a failure to buckle up left 21 people injured when a Toronto-bound flight hit turbulence in December 2015.

The incident took place on an Air Canada flight travelling from Shanghai to Toronto. The Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence over Alaska.

“Most of the passengers who were physically injured were aware that they were required to wear their seatbelts, but chose not to,” the TSB said. “The injuries resulted from passengers coming into contact with aircraft furnishings, the ceiling, and the floor of the interior.”

During the flight, a bulletin sent from Air Canada’s dispatch service warned of a forecasted area of severe turbulence along the route. About 35 minutes before the plane entered the area, the first officer directed cabin crew to stop service and secure the cabin.

Flight attendants secured all carts, made announcements in multiple languages asking passengers to fasten seatbelts and walked the cabin to check that seatbelts were fastened, the TSB said. The lighting in the cabin at the time was in “sleep mode” — a dim setting, the TSB said.

Just before the flight entered the area of turbulence, a passenger got up to use the washroom, despite being told to return to their seat. When the turbulence occurred, the passenger was thrown up to the ceiling and onto the floor, the TSB said.

Most of the injuries sustained were sprains, strains, bruising and scrapes, but one passenger was seriously injured and required an extended stay in hospital, the TSB said. Three of the injured were children, it said.

“The acceleration forces encountered resulted in passengers who were not wearing seatbelts contacting various furnishings and surfaces in the cabin causing a variety of injuries,” the TSB said.