London: At least thirty-one passengers and crew members were injured after an Etihad Airways flight experienced severe and unexpected turbulence on its journey to Indonesia.
Nine are reported to be seriously injured.
The Airbus A330-200, flying from Abu Dhabi, experienced sudden turbulence 45 minutes prior to its arrival at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta international airport yesterday.
“A total of 31 passengers and crew were injured. Twenty two have been released from the airport clinic after being treated by paramedics for minor injuries,” the Guardian quoted a statement issued by Etihad airline as saying.
“Nine other passengers and a crew member were taken to a local hospital,” the statement said.
Haerul Anwar, a spokesman for the airport, said that officials from the airport and Indonesia’s national transportation safety committee were inspecting the plane.
Meanwhile, Indonesian transportation ministry spokesman Hemi Pamuraharjo confirmed that at least eight Indonesian passengers and a foreign flight attendant were among those injured.
The Flight EY474 later landed safely at Soekarno Hatta.
Medical assistance teams met the passengers as they disembarked from the plane. (ANI)