Summary
- The FAA advises that passengers must wear seat belts during key phases of flight, but what “properly secured” means is undefined.
- The cause of a recent Southwest Airlines passenger injury caused by turbulence is currently unclear and is being investigated by the FAA.
- According to the study, there is an increase in global turbulence due to the impact of climate change on airline safety and passenger comfort.
A recent Southwest Airlines Flight from Manchester, New Hampshire to Baltimore encountered turbulence, seriously injuring a passenger. Federal Aviation Administration found that WN3633 encountered difficult conditions at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7. FAA regulations require all passengers to be buckled up during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. However, those regulations do not define what “properly secured” means.
The exact details of the passenger’s injury are still unclear and are currently being investigated by the FAA. The agency has noted that crew members are required to advise passengers when to fasten their seat belts and that everyone on board must follow the cabin crew’s instructions. However, there is no requirement that passengers wear seat belts for the entire flight.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Easy flying
The remnants of Hurricane Debby have been causing strong winds along the American east coast this week, and as Fox Business noted, the pilot was likely notified by the FAA before takeoff that turbulence was to be expected and informed passengers of this.
Southwest Airlines Flight WN3633
Data retrieved from flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that the Southwest Airlines flight from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) on Wednesday at 1:43 p.m., 13 minutes behind the scheduled departure time of 1:30 p.m. The flight, which covers about 373 miles, normally takes just over an hour from gate to gate.
The flight started in a northeasterly direction and then turned southwest towards Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI). It spent most of the flight at its cruising altitude of 26,000 feet before arriving at 2:47 p.m., 13 minutes ahead of schedule.
With the registration N226WN and the serial number 32494, ch-Aviation identifies the aircraft operating the flight as an 18.7-year-old 737 700. The aircraft was delivered to the Low-cost airlines in November 2005 and is powered by two CFMI CFM56-7B24 engines.
Increased turbulence worldwide
In recent months, many flights have experienced turbulence, requiring the hospitalization of injured passengers and crew. The most alarming was Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 on 20 May, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for Singapore at 22:38 with 229 passengers and crew on board. While crossing Myanmar, it encountered severe turbulence, resulting in over 100 injuries and the death of one passenger.
Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock (not 9V-SWM)
A recent study by the UK’s University of Reading found that turbulence in clean air has increased in several regions worldwide. In particular, over the North Atlantic, one of the world’s busiest air routes, the duration of severe turbulence was found to have increased by over 55% since 1979. Moderate turbulence has also increased by 37%, while light turbulence was at 17%. The factors at play were consistent with the impact of climate change. University of Reading atmospheric scientist and study co-author Professor Paul Williams reinforced the findings:
“After a decade of research showing that climate change will lead to more turbulence in clear air in the future, we now have evidence that this increase has already begun.”
