Turbulence Injures 12 on Qatar Airways Flight to Dublin

Turbulence in Aviation

Turbulence is a common aspect of air travel and typically does not result in serious incidents. In the United States, approximately 12 turbulence-related injuries are reported each year. Nonetheless, the recent incidents will likely prompt airlines and authorities to revisit and possibly revise their approach to turbulence management.
Incident Over Turkish Airspace

Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at daa, which manages Dublin Airport operations, provided the following statement:

"Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely as scheduled at Dublin Airport shortly before 13:00 on Sunday. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including Airport Police and our Fire and Rescue department, due to six passengers and six crew members reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey."

McQueen added that airport staff are assisting passengers and providing support to airline personnel.

Qatar Airways Response

Qatar Airways confirmed that the injuries are minor. The airline emphasized that those affected are receiving medical attention and reiterated that safety is their top priority. Consequently, an internal investigation has been initiated.

The aircraft involved, registration A7-BHM, is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that joined Qatar Airways' fleet in September 2023. It is one of 48 Dreamliners operated by the airline.

Flight QR17 departed from Doha at 07:55 and landed in Dublin at 12:55, ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 13:30. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft dropped 275 feet at a rate of approximately 21,888 feet per minute over Turkish airspace. However, GPS jamming in the region may affect data accuracy.