An Air China flight met with severe clear air turbulence (CAT) during its journey, resulting in injuries to a passenger and a crew member.
The incident took place on an Air China Airbus A330-300, en route from Shanghai to Beijing on Monday, July 10. The aircraft unexpectedly encountered severe CAT when cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The account of the turbulence was shared by Xing Lida, an associate professor at the China University of Geosciences, on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. He detailed that the turbulence occurred in the final half hour of the flight, causing a sudden upheaval inside the cabin.
In the chaos, a female passenger and a crew member were thrust against the ceiling of the cabin, leading to a crack in it and dislodging an overhead exit sign.
Images shared post-incident on social media revealed scattered objects such as pillows and reading materials. Despite the disarray, the cabin crew demonstrated commendable composure, ensuring the safety of the passengers and providing immediate assistance to the injured.
The aircraft successfully made a safe landing in Beijing at 5:18 pm local time. Following the landing, a passenger and a crew member were taken to a local hospital. Xing noted minor injuries and sprains among some passengers, but a detailed report on the extent of injuries is yet to be disclosed by Air China.