Severe Flight Turbulence Is a Growing Threat in a Warming World
Research suggests severe turbulence in jet streams could double or even triple in coming decades if the climate continues to change as expected.
Photographer: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Though severe flight turbulence is rare, it can be dangerous. On Monday, about 40 passengers were injured on an extremely bumpy Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay. Following the turbulence, Flight UX045 was diverted to Brazil’s Natal Airport and impacted passengers were taken for treatment in the city.
While the exact cause of the Europa flight turbulence is unclear, the incident comes less than two months after one passenger died and more than 20 were injured on a choppy Singapore Airlines flight traveling from London to its home country. That aircraft was caught in an updraft before plunging nearly 180 feet in a matter of seconds, according to a preliminary report. Singapore Airlines has since offered some compensation to passengers who sustained injuries, ranging between $10,000 to $25,000.