Panic in the Air: Flight Turns Back After Severe Turbulence
A flight headed to Miami from Stockholm was forced to turn around after severe turbulence threw passengers out of their seats.
The Turbulent Flight
SAS flight 957, Stockholm to Miami, was west of Greenland when it hit severe turbulence. Cell phone video shows the panic at 36,000 feet. Passengers, cups, and backpacks were thrown throughout the cabin.
Passenger’s Account
Sammy Solstad started recording when the turbulence woke him up. “The lady and gentleman next to me… he was strapped down with the seatbelt, but he still had it loose… and his wife that was sitting next to him, she didn’t have a seatbelt at all so she flew all the way up into the ceiling, hitting the head first.”
Solstad also says his first instinct was to help. “You can hear in the video how I was screaming for the staff to help her up and buckle her in, but nobody did anything,” Solstad said. “So I unstrapped myself and I ran across the plane and helped her up and strapped her in so she was safe.”
The Decision to Turn Back
Still far from Miami, the crew decided to turn back, landing in Copenhagen.
Airline’s Policy
An SAS spokeswoman tells NBC News the flight to Miami encountered severe turbulence over Greenland. There are no reports of significant injuries.
The airline’s policy is that any plane that hits severe turbulence must be inspected upon landing. Since SAS doesn’t have the facilities in Miami to do the inspection, the decision was made to turn back to Stockholm.
Passenger’s Disappointment
That was a bad decision, in Solstad’s opinion. “They had to fly back to Copenhagen, Denmark, which was five hours back… but we only had about 30 minutes to a Canadian Airport or maybe one hour to an American (airport).”
Conclusion
The incident highlights the importance of airline policies and procedures in dealing with severe turbulence. While the airline’s decision to turn back may have been necessary, it also caused inconvenience and frustration for passengers. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and the need for airlines to balance safety with passenger comfort and convenience.
FAQs
Q: What happened on the flight?
A: The flight from Stockholm to Miami encountered severe turbulence, causing passengers to be thrown out of their seats.
Q: Were there any injuries?
A: There are no reports of significant injuries.
Q: Why did the flight turn back?
A: The airline’s policy is that any plane that hits severe turbulence must be inspected upon landing. Since SAS doesn’t have the facilities in Miami to do the inspection, the decision was made to turn back to Stockholm.
Q: What did the passenger do to help?
A: Sammy Solstad, a passenger on the flight, helped a woman who was thrown out of her seat and was not wearing a seatbelt. He unstrapped himself and ran across the plane to help her up and buckle her in.
