The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reminded flyers to always heed the “fasten seatbelt” advice given by pilots particularly during high altitude.
CAAP issued the reminder on Sunday after clear air turbulence caused minor injuries to some 40 passengers, including three children and two flight attendants, in a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Saturday afternoon.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio explained that clear air turbulence could neither be seen nor detected by conventional weather radar.
“It (clear air turbulence) can strike even in the absence of clouds and pilots have no time to warn passengers and crew to get strapped into their seats,” he said.
Apolonio pointed out, “This is the reason why pilots forewarn passengers to always fasten their seatbelts even if the aircraft is on a high altitude flight.”
A report from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that flight QR 932 encountered turbulence at around 3 p.m. on Saturday on the 30-mile approach to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway.
The resulting downdraft caused minor injuries, mostly abrasions, on the aircraft’s passengers who did not have their seatbelts fastened at the time.
At 3:18 pm, Saturday, the Manila tower received a request for priority landing from the Qatar Airways flight because a number of its passengers and personnel needed medical attention.
A medical team deployed by the MIAA reported treating some 40 passengers for bruises and scratches.
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