Your Trip - Tips for Flights
» Turbulence
Guide Sections ...   • Introduction   • What Not To Pack   • Carry-On Baggage   • Airport Security Issues   • Passenger Safety   • Turbulence   • Child Safety Seats   • Exit Row Seating   • Electronics Onboard   • Unruly Passengers   • Fire or Smoke   • Evacuation Turbulence happens and much of it is unpredicted. And when it does happen, adults and children who are not buckled up can be seriously injured. Indeed, the majority of turbulence-related injuries and deaths occur when the seat belt sign is on. Wear your seat belt at all times, turbulence is not always predictable. Make sure your seat belt is secured snugly and low across the hips. In non-fatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to airline passengers and flight attendants. Each year, approximately 58 airline passengers in the United States are injured by turbulence while not wearing their seat belts. From 1981 through December 1997, there were 342 reports of turbulence affecting major air carriers. As a result, three passengers died, 80 suffered serious injuries and 769 received minor injuries. At least two of the three fatalities involved passengers who were not wearing their seat belts while the seat belt sign was illuminated. Of the 80 passengers who were seriously injured, approximately 73 were not wearing their seat belts while the seat belt sign was illuminated. Generally, two-thirds of turbulence-related accidents occur at or above 30,000 feet. In 1997, about half of the accidents occurred above 30,000 feet.