Why were 36 passengers injured and 11 seriously during a turbulence event on approach to Honolulu? It happened earlier today.
An unusually strong winter storm with incredibly whipping gale-force winds is making its way through Hawaii today and tomorrow. It is unpredictable, with calm one minute and cyclonic winds, thunderstorms, and heavy driving rain the next. This is an unusual storm, even for Hawaii, where storms can be extreme. Trees are down, among other things, and we haven’t heard the last of it. It is forecast to head out of Hawaii sometime tomorrow, thankfully.
Incident on Hawaiian Air Flight 35.
Our concerns, of course, are with those people hurt today on Hawaiian Air flight 35, an Airbus A330 wide-body plane that seats 278. The flight was on approach to Honolulu from Phoenix when the event occurred. Many injured passengers were taken to the hospital in Honolulu. Honolulu Airport reported a mass casualty incident.
In total, there were eleven serious injuries among 36 people hurt. The event occurred sometime just prior to 11 AM when we can report the winds, at least on the ground, were absolutely going nuts. The plane landed safely at 10:58 AM.
Honolulu EMS said that of those injured, there was a 14-month-old child and a teenager. They were hospitalized along with at least nine others. EMS reported that “Injuries included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising, and loss of consciousness. None of the victims appeared to have life-threatening injuries. Photos and the video below seem to indicate a dent in the plane’s interior ceiling and luggage bins, such as might indicate someone hitting them.
We’ll reach out to Hawaii Airlines, but on Twitter, they said, “Medical care was provided to several guests & crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to local hospitals for further care. We are supporting all affected passengers & employees and are continuing to monitor the situation.”
A number of factors aren’t clear at the moment. Those include where the plane was in its approach; and whether the plane was flying through one of the prolific thunderstorms when the turbulence occurred. Was the seatbelt sign on, and were the injured seated and buckled up at the time?
Turbulence on flights to Hawaii.
We’ve previously experienced horrible turbulence over the Pacific, while not of the nature and severity that caused this many unfortunate injuries. It was, even then, however, not fun or comfortable, and it became scary, especially during stormy conditions such as what existed today. Modern planes are, of course, built to withstand the stress of such turbulence, perhaps more so than their passengers.
This served as a reminder to stay buckled up when flying – seatbelt signs or not.
BULLETIN: 36 passengers were injured, 11 seriously, when a Hawaiian Airlines flight hit turbulence. Flight 35 from Phoenix to Honolulu landed safely. The airport declared a mass casualty incident. Follow @Mighty990KWAM for breaking news. pic.twitter.com/ahYc86XQaK
— KWAM NewsTalk Memphis (@Mighty990KWAM) December 19, 2022
Why did the pilots not go around the storm being with all the Radar Systems on board? They should of saw that storm coming at them. Then also why did they not fly around it then land on another island temporarily then transfer people to other flights I stated if going through that storm? I feel sorry for all those on board and pray for the injured. The pilots still did a great job in landing the plane safely. We fly fly Hawaiian Airlines couple times a year to fly home from Seattle where I live now. It is still the Best & Safest Airline In The Skies. We would never change.
As Forest Gump said, “stupid is as stupid does” It doesn’t take a genius to know you have your seatbelt on when in your seat at all times
People are awfully judgey here. Goodness. Apparently this came up suddenly, who knows if the seatbelt light was even on, have to wait for the report. It’s an over 5 hour flight from Phoenix, at some point a bathroom break is required. Judge that I guess. And I 99% of the time keep my seatbelt fastened when I’m sitting down. Prayers for those injured. I started out a Hawai’i trip going to urgent care a few years ago, not a nice way to kick off a trip to paradise.
We departed Maui during that time to San Jose. The turbulence was bad for the first hour or so. Seat belt sign was on but some people didn’t buckle. When things calmed down manny took off their belts including children.
I am a retired pilot. In the past two weeks I flew in and out of Hawaii Island (Big Island). I cringe every time I see people up and walking around in the cabin when the seatbelt sign is turned on. Apparently the urge to go to the bathroom trumps safety for a lot of people. My second observation is the number of people that do not want to rumple their shorts and sit unbuckled when the sign is off. As a pilot we used to gently suggest that people “do as we do in the cockpit and keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you’re in your seat. Since this airplane was on approach the final cabin check should have been completed and all “tray tables up and locked, all electronics turned off and stowed, and seat belts securely fastened. Were they?
My special needs sons have flown with me before. I checked on their seat belts because I didn’t want to be breaking any rules. I wondered what good a seat belt would do if you were high up in the air falling to Earth. I have heard of turbulence. I saw people experiencing it in a thunderstorm in a movie but I have not experienced it firsthand. I can see in a rough landing or being thrown around that a seat belt would keep you in place. I don’t know the exact circumstances on this flight so I don’t want to judge. I feel bad for all who were hurt. It’s an extra reminder for me to stay belted. Of course on especially long flights like Hawaii there will be bathroom breaks. Maybe I should start wearing Depends.
My Prayers go out to all of those who were injured 🙏. After a couple of turbulent experiences while sleeping without my seat belt on I almost always keep it on unless heading to the bathroom. It not only keeps me safe from turbulence but it also keeps me from falling out of my seat when I am sleeping and occasionally snoring. Thankfully I am Not a drooler. It’s really interesting how some people will ignore the seat belt sign, on approach get up to procure their bags, etc. and if they are injured they’ll blame the airline. There should be a Disclaimer for Turbulence and Dumb Acts.
This storm also brings mud slides and roads closer to Maui.
Very sorry for all injured. But I must assume none were belted in. An infant being held or people moving to and from the restroom I understand. But that likely accounts for a fraction of the 36. My family never sits without our seatbelts fastened and this is why. Why is common sense so often an uncommon virtue? Are these people among the many who also refuse to use their car seatbelts?
And given our litigious society, Hawaiian and their insurers will be held responsible for their bad judgment. The subsidizing of foolishness only creates a world of fools.
Absolutely the Truth, Well Said 👏 👌 👍
Never say never and never assume.
Not to say they “deserved it” but if you are on a plane without your seatbelt buckled then I don’t have much sympathy for them. This excludes babies and small children who have a hard time staying strapped in the entire journey. The rest of them? They should know better.
Personal responsibility people.
My special needs sons have flown with me before. I checked on their seat belts because I didn’t want to be breaking any rules. I wondered what good a seat belt would do if you were high up in the air falling to Earth. I have heard of turbulence. I saw people experiencing it in a thunderstorm in a movie but I have not experienced it firsthand. I can see in a rough landing or being thrown around that a seat belt would keep you in place. I don’t know the exact circumstances on this flight so I don’t want to judge. I feel bad for all who were hurt. It’s an extra reminder for me to stay belted. Of course on especially long flights like Hawaii there will be bathroom breaks. Maybe I should start wearing Depends.
My special needs sons have flown to Hawaii with me before. I always check to make sure their seat belts are fastened. I don’t know what the situation was when the turbulence struck but I do know a bathroom trip on a Hawaii flight is a necessity. I can’t judge not knowing all the facts but I am sorry for the ones that were hurt. I haven’t experienced any turbulence firsthand but this is a reminder of how a seat belt can come in handy. If your plane is crashing from way up in the sky maybe not so much.
I’m sitting on flight HA 100 from Honolulu to Maui. We landed at 8:40 here in Maui, and it’s now 10:20PM snd we are still sitting in the plane waiting to deplane. Horrific.
Why?
I wonder how many of the crew were injured. Probably none because they were all strapped into their jump seats. I bet that all of those who were injure were not buckled in, despite repeated announcements by the crew to do so. There’s no other explanation.
As for the storms, this morning, I drove out to Kahului (Maui) Airport. I noticed on my flight tracking phone app that several large aircraft were in spiral holding patterns over Ko’olawe island. One of those was an AA B777, annd it eventually flew south and landed at Kona instead. And I watched a Southwest airlines plane perform a “go around” maneuver, where at the last moment the pilot pulled up from the runway and aborted the landing. That plane also flew south to Kona.
It was mentioned that some of the crew were injured. I don’t remember the exact number.
This is yet another example of why you should always stay in your seat and have your seat belt fastened.
Airlines need to reduce the number of seats so they’re more comfortable, and people aren’t up and standing around in the cabin. I can see why they do it, but standing in the cabin is dangerous, and unless you need to use the rest room your seat is the safest place in the airplane.
If airlines reduce seats, they obviously will be increasing airfares accordingly. That’s just basic economics. Do you support increasing airfares? Those people I’m sure do not. Five hours and a less than optimal seat is a small price to pay for being able to fly across the Pacific Ocean. Those who won comfort should probably stay home and learn how to play golf.
There’s a reason that my seatbelt is always fastened unless necessary during a flight. Sorry for the people injured.