21 hurt by turbulence in ‘flight from hell’

Toronto-bound plane stops in Calgary after passengers sustain sprains, neck trauma

CALGARY— Passengers are describing a Toronto-bound Air Canada flight that was diverted to Calgary on Wednesday as a terrifying rollercoaster ride.

Emergency officials said 21 people, including three children, were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor sprains to serious chest and neck trauma. However, no one suffered life-threatening injuries.

Passengers on Flight 088 said with only about two hours left in the flight from Shanghai, the pilot came on the intercom and warned they were entering an area of turbulence.

But no one was prepared for the jolt that sent the Boeing 777 into sudden descent.

“It was the flight from hell,” said passenger Connie Gelber.

“The girl beside me was thrown right out of her seat down the aisle. Everyone was injured. We thought we were dying. Even the stewards (said that) never in any of their years had (they) seen anything like it.”

Gelber said it appeared the most seriously injured had ignored the pilot’s warning and had not buckled up.

“They did not have their seatbelts on, and that’s a lesson to be learned to all of you,” she said.

Some passengers described waves of turbulence, but others said it wasn’t all that bad.

“It was a little scary,” said Gord Murray of Toronto. “All the crew were very professional, handled themselves really well. Everyone stayed calm. A few people had a couple of minor injuries and were a little bit shaken up but we made it back safe and sound. It could have been much worse.”

He said a handful of passengers with medical training checked people after the turbulence ended, going first to those who were feeling ill.

“They were wonderful,” he said. “It was very, very quick, the one burst and then after that everyone remained calm.” Emergency Medical Services spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the injured were transported to four Calgary-area hospitals and were all in stable condition. He said the children were 11 and 12.

Many could be seen be taken on stretchers and back boards to ambulances waiting in front of the terminal doors. Some had their necks stabilized with towels and medical tape. Others were sitting upright. One person had a towel over their face.

Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur confirmed the flight from Shanghai, China, which was carrying 332 passengers and 19 crew members, hit turbulence.