Injury prevention


Inflight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to passengers and crew. Occupants injured during turbulence are usually not wearing seatbelts, ignoring recommendations to keep seatbelts fastened even when the signs are not illuminated. It is recognized that passengers need to move around the cabin to use restroom facilities or to exercise on long flights. However you seatbelts should be fastened at all times when seated.


Some sobering facts about turbulence:


• The majority of turbulence related injuries occur below 20,000 feet in the vicinity of thunderstorms. It is critically important for both passengers and flight attendants to be seated with their seatbelts fastened in those conditions.


• A recent safety research report from the NTSB notes that flight attendants account for nearly 80 percent of turbulence related injuries because their jobs frequently require them to be up and about without the safety benefit of a seatbelt.


• The NTSB reports that Part 121 serious turbulence injuries from 2009 to 2022 total 163. 34 involved passengers and 129 involved flight attendants.


39 Aviation Basics


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