Turbulence Risks to Airline Passengers

Turbulence Risks

Turbulence happens on just about every flight, but most of the time the amount of turbulence is very small, and the level of risk is very low. In those rare cases where the turbulence is severe, any passenger who is not buckled up can be seriously injured. The following insights and advice should keep you from becoming one of those statistics.

Turbulence Basics
You can experience turbulence for many reasons, typically due to weather conditions such as thunderstorms. Severe turbulence can happen in any phase of flight, but is it most likely to be hazardous during cruise when passengers and crew are most likely to be out of their seats and not belted in. In most cases a passenger experiencing turbulence will feel nothing more than a slight vibration. At the other extreme are those rare events that are severe enough to throw passengers around the cabin.

Injuries from Overhead Baggage
Passengers are at risk of injury from falling debris during turbulence, as well as during other events like hard landings. A study published by the Flight Safety Foundation that surveyed airlines in the mid-1990s showed that an estimated 10,000 passengers were injured each year by falling luggage. Passengers sustained injuries ranging from bruises to lacerations to severe head trauma. Sometimes those suffering head trauma may not show symptoms for several hours or days, and the effects of the trauma may linger for several months.

Deaths and Injuries from Turbulence
While fatalities are rare, they do happen. Since 1980, AirSafe.com has identified six events where at least one passenger was killed on a jet airliner as the result of turbulence. Less severe injuries are more common. For example, during the five-year period 2003-2007, the NTSB identified 57 turbulence events on airliners that involved a serious injury to at least one person on the aircraft.

Reducing Your Risks
When the flight crew expects turbulence, they will work with the cabin crew to make sure that passengers are in their seats and belted in, and that serving carts and other loose items are properly secured. When turbulence is not expected, you should take a few basics steps before and during the flight to ensure your safety:

Follow the instructions of the flight crew and cabin crew. If the crew suggests that passengers return to their seats, do so as soon as you can.

Wear your seat belt at all times, even during a smooth flight on a cloudless day. Turbulence is not always predictable and may arrive without warning.

Be aware of your overhead bin. Avoid sitting under a bin that is heavily packed or that contains one or more heavy items. If you can, move to a seat that is not directly under a bin.

Passenger Deaths Due to Turbulence

Weather and Turbulence Data
World Weather
U.S. Weather Radar
Turbulence Maps
AIRMETs and SIGMETs
Pilot Reports (PIREPs)
U.S. Lightning Activity
World Weather
Other Turbulence Data
Traveler's Advisories