Babies flung in air as jet turbulence leaves 27 hurt
THESE were the chaotic scenes after an aircraft hit severe turbulence injuring at least 27 people yesterday.
Babies and adults were hurled around the cabin 40 minutes before the Aeroflot flight from Moscow was due to land in Bangkok.
Three Russians were taken to hospital in the Thai city with multiple leg fractures and broken ribs.
Vladimir Sosnov, from the Russian consulate in Thailand, said yesterday: “The injured suffered multiple fractures. There are both Russian and foreign citizens among them.
“Apparently, those who were injured did not have their seat belts fastened”.
A spokesman for the airline said stewards did not tell the 313 passengers to put their seat belts on ahead of the carnage because it was “impossible to foresee.”
They said: “The incident was caused by what is known in aviation as clearair turbulence.
“Such turbulence occurs without any clouds, in clear skies with good visibility, and weather radar is unable to alert of its approach.”
They added the crew in charge of the Boeing 777 were “experienced” and the pilot had over 23,000 flight hours of experience.
The airline has agreed to cover all medical costs.
Evgenia Zibrova, who posted video footage of the chaos on flight SU270, wrote: “Babies are covered in bruises, people lost consciousness. Thanks that we are still alive. Aeroflot, please help these people.”
Another passenger told TV channel Russia 24: “We were hurled up into the roof of the plane, it was practically impossible to hold on.
“It felt like the shaking wouldn’t stop, that we would just crash.”