Emergency services were deployed at Dublin Airport on Saturday following an incident of turbulence that left at least 12 passengers and crew injured on a Qatar Airways flight. The flight, QR017 from Doha to Dublin, encountered turbulence over Turkey, resulting in injuries to six passengers and six crew members. Despite the ordeal, the aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport around 1 PM on Sunday, as scheduled.
"Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely as scheduled at Dublin Airport shortly before 13.00 on Sunday. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including Airport Police and our Fire and Rescue department, due to 6 passengers and 6 crew [12 total] on board reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey. The Dublin Airport team continues to provide full assistance on the ground to passengers and airline staff," Dublin Airport said in an X post.
Upon landing, the aircraft was met by airport emergency services, including police and fire and rescue teams. Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, confirmed that injured passengers and crew were receiving medical attention and that the airport team was providing full assistance on the ground, Sky News reported.
As per the report, the Qatar Airways stated that the injuries sustained by passengers and crew were minor and assured that they receiving appropriate medical care. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising the safety and security of its passengers and crew.
An internal investigation into the incident has been initiated to ascertain the cause and circumstances surrounding the turbulence, the report said.
Turbulence incidents have gained attention recently, with a separate incident involving extreme turbulence resulting in the death of a British man on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow to Singapore.
Turbulence, characterised by sudden changes in airflow and wind speed, poses risks to aviation safety. While turbulence associated with storm clouds is typically well forecasted, clear-air turbulence (CAT) poses greater danger due to its invisible nature, occurring at higher altitudes and often linked to the jet stream.