Agonising flight after leg broken
Passenger endures hours of pain from injury after turbulence hits
An Air New Zealand passenger suffered a severely broken leg just 30 minutes into a seven-hour international flight after the plane hit turbulence when he was returning from the toilet.
German-born couple Niko and Sasha, who didn’t want to give their last name, boarded flight NZ65 from Denpasar to Auckland on Tuesday night, having planned a three-anda-half week trip in New Zealand after living in Bali for 13 years.
But 30 minutes into the flight, their holiday drastically changed.
After the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s seatbelt light was switched off, 47-year-old Niko went to the toilet. While he was on his way back to his seat, the plane encountered turbulence and “dropped”, he said.
A friend who was waiting to pick Niko up from the Auckland Airport said he suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in the incident.
“His leg pretty much snapped in half,” the friend said.
Niko told the friend the turbulence was so severe the pilot came out of the cockpit and apologised to passengers.
The tourist endured excruciating pain for the next six and a half hours while the plane continued its route to Auckland.
“There was a doctor onboard the flight but only Panadol was available to be administered,” the friend said.
“Crew asked some passengers to move from their seats so he was able to lie down for the remainder.”
When the plane landed, paramedics were waiting at the international terminal to treat Niko.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson confirmed it had attended an incident at Auckland International Airport about 5.40am on Wednesday after a passenger suffered a turbulence related injury.
One person with moderate injuries was treated and transported to
Middlemore Hospital.
Air New Zealand confirmed the incident occurred when the plane encountered “clear air turbulence”, described as sudden, severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that pilots are unable to see, causing violent buffeting of an aircraft.
Chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan said one passenger sustained an injury on flight NZ65 from Bali to Auckland.
“They were attended to by a doctor onboard the aircraft. No other passenger injuries were reported to our crew.”
Morgan said in the event of a medical incident aboard an international service, crew would contact Flightcare Global, Air New Zealand’s international medical support, who “provide advice and recommendations based on the information they receive”.
“Depending on the situation, crew may put a call out to see whether there is a doctor onboard. If there is a doctor available who can support the passenger, our crew will take guidance from them in conjunction with Flightcare Global.”
Morgan added that if it was operationally viable, an aircraft would divert if Flightcare Global is “sufficiently concerned” about the individual’s immediate welfare and determines further medical attention is required immediately.
“They will also consider factors like the level of medical care likely available to the individual in the possible diversion locations and whether it is in the individual’s best interest to continue to the intended destination.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority.
“Our crew are trained to respond to medical emergencies and always prioritise the wellbeing of the customers onboard the aircraft,” Morgan said.
A Counties Manukau DHB spokesperson yesterday said Niko remained in a stable condition in Middlemore Hospital and was awaiting surgery. He had been waiting for surgery since he arrived at the hospital.
The incident comes just over a month after a technical problem caused “strong movement” onboard Chilean airline Latam’s flight LA800 from Sydney to Auckland, prompting a major emergency response to Auckland International Airport.
St John crews treated about 50 patients, one in a serious condition and the remainder in moderate to minor conditions.
His leg pretty much snapped in half.
Friend of injured passenger Niko