A flight turned into a nightmare for one passenger as severe turbulence left him with a broken leg, enduring excruciating pain for over six hours until landing.
German-born Niko and his girlfriend Sasha embarked on a seven-hour journey from Bali to Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, flying via Air New Zealand. However, just 30 minutes into the flight, as the plane hit turbulent air, tragedy struck.
Niko, walking back to his seat from the restroom, described the moment the plane "dropped," resulting in his leg "snapping in half." His friend informed The New Zealand Herald that the 47-year-old sustained a fractured tibia and fibula.
Despite apologies from the pilot, Niko was left to suffer until landing, with only Panadol (aka Tylenol or paracetamol) available to alleviate his pain. Passengers were asked to vacate their seats so Niko could lie down for the remainder of the flight.
After landing at Auckland's international terminal, paramedics swiftly attended to Niko. A spokesperson from Hato Hone St John confirmed the incident, stating they had responded to a turbulence-related injury.
Air New Zealand confirmed the occurrence, attributing it to sudden "clear air turbulence," which pilots cannot anticipate in cloudless areas.
Captain David Morgan, the airline's Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer, assured that no other injuries were reported, per News.com.au.
Turbulence, although nothing to worry about normally, has proven to be fatal before.
In March 2023, Dana J. Hyde, 55, who served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, lost her life after a private business jet she was aboard encountered severe turbulence.
The private jet, owned by Conexon, a company specializing in expanding high-speed internet service to rural communities and led by Hyde's husband, Jonathan Chambers, was en route from Keene, New Hampshire, to Leesburg, Virginia, before diverting to Bradley International Airport.
According to flight data reported by The Daily Mail, the jet took off around 3:35 PM and quickly reached an altitude of 26,000 feet before encountering turbulence and landing approximately 10 minutes later.
Abby Carere, a spokesperson for Conexon, confirmed the ownership of the aircraft and Hyde's relationship with Chambers. Fortunately, Chambers and his son, also onboard, escaped injury.
Turbulence, though common, rarely results in injury or death. Pilots utilize technology to navigate away from stormy areas, activating seatbelt signs when necessary for passenger safety.
The Federal Aviation Authority recorded no deaths from turbulence between 2009 and 2020, with only 30 reported serious injuries.