2 Passengers Injured After SkyWest Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, Pilot Confirms 'There Is Bleeding'
Posted by iridesc3nce@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 87 comments
keeper13@reddit
As someone not in the know, is this happening more often or am I just seeing more flight news these days?
lukaskywalker@reddit
It is happening more because of weather systems are getting stronger and there is more turbulence in the sky. Many studies talk about this
007meow@reddit
Are we getting better at detecting these localized events with sufficient warning to avoid them
sm3xym3xican@reddit
Well we were and then we fired all the people who help detect them
keeper13@reddit
This brain dead administration I swear
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BlackDante@reddit
What about in other countries?
Rayeon-XXX@reddit
Sure that and more planes flying than ever before.
Beyar30@reddit
It is happening more often. Climate change has increased severe turbulent events on average.
Previous-Distance81@reddit
Please don’t say something stupid like that without even looking at the actual facts. Pilot and former Government employee.
Beyar30@reddit
Obviously I am no expert, I am just repeating what I have read from several articles on the subject. Are you saying climate change has not increased turbulence on average? I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a stupid thing to say when evidence supports this, Mr Government.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240524-severe-turbulence-climate-change-singapore-airlines
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.global-aero.com/navigating-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-aviation/amp/
https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/airlines/a44949920/why-air-turbulence-is-getting-worse/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pop_md_pmx_hybd_mix_ca_20292853641&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20299403516&gbraid=0AAAAADCyiSl6Y0d3t9o7hpncWSSLJj6mj&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwsrFBhD6ARIsAPnUFD1a_b3XukUDTu-EN3WNcxP8AD6fSVUKKtEQkiaTou2ujrS86ERmG5waArULEALw_wcB
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keeper13@reddit
I trust pilots but I feel flying is becoming unsafe due to climate change and this shitty administration that fired many FAA members for no reason
Moonlight_Brawl@reddit
What’s happening more often?
Griffie@reddit
Anyone want to bet those two didn’t have a seat belt on?
cyclin_@reddit
My buddy was on that flight, he said one of the injured people was in the bathroom…
EducatedJooner@reddit
Any other insight from your friend about the turbulence in general?
cyclin_@reddit
Just "worst turbulence I've ever experienced" and we both have ASE as our home airport so a good day is moderate chop when coming in, and on summer afternoons there will be patches of moderate turbulence reguarly. People who aren't used to it freak out a little and the pilots try to warn people, FAs are always seated well before we get into the mountains, the FAs are always seated the entire DEN<>ASE run for this reason.
RussHanneman-@reddit
Honest question, was this considered turbulence? Dropping 5,000 in a matter of seconds seems more severe than turbulence. I hear turbulence and think some bumps and choppy air. Maybe my understanding is just wrong.
Previous-Distance81@reddit
Yes you are wrong
cyclin_@reddit
I think I saw it was ruled an accident, but I think the accident was flying into severe turbulence. I thought I saw it was considered an accident, so maybe there will be an NTSB report and we'll get to see what happened.
Griffie@reddit
I hope their injuries heal quickly. Yeah, being in a bathroom, there’s not much you can do.
cyclin_@reddit
Definitely a crappy situation
sg1rob@reddit
I’d be pissed.
RussHanneman-@reddit
In the bathroom.
johnfkngzoidberg@reddit
To all the old timer pilots, is turbulence getting worse as the weather changes in recent years?
mayhemtime@reddit
Not a pilot, but we had a class on climate change in uni and apparently yes, turbulence is getting worse because of more energy in the atmosphere.
Previous-Distance81@reddit
Pilot here. No it’s not getting worse.
TinyCopy5841@reddit
You should probably ask that question on a meteorology subreddit. Pilots are not scientists and the vast majority of people on this sub aren't even pilots.
WretchedMisteak@reddit
That's horrible for all involved. I can't even stand minor turbulence, I get the cold sweats.
From a pilot's point of view, would this be a stressful situation or are they just noting it, flicking a few buttons and moving on? I am not trying to be funny here, just generally curious.
BrewCityChaserV2@reddit
-11,392 fpm descent rate recorded at some point. Yikes.
https://i.imgur.com/KMBINBS.png
sebastienca@reddit
Damn that must feel awful in a passenger seat
RussHanneman-@reddit
Imagine unexpectedly riding a large roller coaster.
GreatLakesGoldenST8@reddit
I think I would break into tears if I felt that sink rate
atlien0255@reddit
Can you describe what you think it felt like? Like for how long were they just dropping?
MrNewking@reddit
Think of a Rollercoaster drop. It's like that
atlien0255@reddit
Ah yep, got it. Gotta keep those seatbelts on. Oof.
AltruisticCoelacanth@reddit
You would feel your seatbelt keeping you in your seat.
atlien0255@reddit
Oof. No fun.
purpleplatapi@reddit
Oh man. It doesn't say how the two passengers were injured, but God can you imagine being on the toilet when that happens? You'd hit the ceiling for sure.
RussHanneman-@reddit
They were out of their seats.
Need_For-Sleep@reddit
That’s basically a free fall at that point… right? As someone who knows not much about descent rate, I’d assume that’s basically the equivalent of dropping out of the sky
anactualspacecadet@reddit
It depends on how you fly if, in C-17 we can hit a tac descent thats up to 20,000 fpm (most i have personally seen is 13k). Its doesn’t feel like free fall, just a driving at the earth at 320 knots
1060nm@reddit
It’s about 130mph for reference, but the acceleration and deceleration is what will have mattered the most.
anactualspacecadet@reddit
Hey thats almost a tac descent in the C-17!
Tasty_Lead_Paint@reddit
You know what? I think I’ll drive instead of fly
Slow_Grapefruit5214@reddit
The worst roller coaster ride ever. The g-forces on the passengers’ bodies must have been incredibly brutal.
Funkytadualexhaust@reddit
Would it just be one G down?
Busy_Monitor_9679@reddit
Would be closer to zero g's
tarmacjd@reddit
Im just thankful that modern birds stay together under the stress
metroidpwner@reddit
Yeah, that must have been terrifying to experience but it is comforting that the plane did the job
Redebo@reddit
Wheeeeeeeer!!!
oranges1cle@reddit
Their flight path shows them topping CBs when it happened. Half of the severe turbulence events I read about are people topping CBs.
fivetriplezero@reddit
What does “topping CBs” mean?
oranges1cle@reddit
Flying above thunderstorms (cumulonimbus i.e. CB). Just because you’re not in the thunderstorm doesn’t mean you’ll avoid the updrafts, downdrafts, hail, and lightning those storms throw off. They need to be respected and given a wide birth.
lukaskywalker@reddit
Why is this even done anymore. My flights have always seemed to fully avoid thunderstorms entirely
Holiday_Specialist12@reddit
Sometimes fronts form huge lines of thunderstorms that spans hundreds of miles. Sometimes it’s easier to top them than finding a path through them. Nobody tops an isolated storm.
RussHanneman-@reddit
lukaskywalker@reddit
Fair enough
cerealfordinneragain@reddit
Flew from Vegas to Phoenix a few summers ago and it was a 2 hour flight bc we had to go waaaaaaay around d a huge storm. Descending into PHX, I saw there were huge swaths of sprawl that were blacked out - no power.
Random-Cpl@reddit
Berth*
The_Ashamed_Boys@reddit
I don't think topping involves a downdraft, which it seems like he the case, unless they just completely lost control.
AliceInPlunderland@reddit
AvHerald reports:
A Skywest Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N110SY performing flight UA-5971 from Aspen,CO to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 45 passengers and 4 crew, was enroute at FL390 about 160nm north of Austin,TX (USA) when the aircraft encountered extreme turbulence causing the aircraft to descent to about FL347 before the aircraft began climbing again. Climbing through about FL374 the crew decided to divert to Austin,TX and initiated the descent towards Austin, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 18R about 35 minutes after leaving FL390. Two passengers were taken to hospital with injuries.
The airline reported two adult passengers were taken to hospitals out of abundance of caution. Emergency services that no injuries were life-threatening.
The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A PRESSURIZATION ISSUE AND SEVERE TURBULENCE, AUSTIN, TX.", two passengers received serious injuries, the occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated.
The remainder of the flight was cancelled.
The aircraft is still on the ground in Austin about 16 hours after landing.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL5971/history/20250828/1935Z/KASE/KIAH
GhostPepperDaddy@reddit
That is a crazy sink rate
GorgeWashington@reddit
I can't even fathom how that happens. Massive downdraft. Physics stopped working?... That's terrifying
soimalittlecrazy@reddit
We've had really tumultuous weather in Colorado this week. We get a lot of mixed air systems and the mountains create their own as well. It can create very localized, isolated areas of... Anything really. I guess including lack of air or physics.
over_here_over_there@reddit
They were 160nm north of Austin. I drove through the thunderstorms in CO last night and it was not fun but they were nowhere near us.
cyclin_@reddit
The oxygen masks came down and passengers were instructed to use them, I would imagine that’s a big deal to reset that whole system.
grampstheman@reddit
just got off a transatlantic flight, smooth sailing but still i'd like to thank this sub for turning me into a wears a seatbelt at all times person.
MarvinPA83@reddit
Karma will catch up eventually with those jerks who give you a patronising look when they see your seatbelt fastened in flight.
Spark_Ignition_6@reddit
Nobody does that
I_Only_Post_NEAT@reddit
I never understood why people don’t. It’s already there, might as well put it on. Same with car seatbelt. But then again I ride motorcycles so I would be so pissed if I died in a seat unbuckled
botany_bae@reddit
Keep your mf’n seatbelts on!
Northern_Blights@reddit
What is a flight attendant supposed to buckle themselves to while serving you drinks?
Frozefoots@reddit
Maybe they were on their way to/from or in the bathroom?
FinePieceOfAss@reddit
blows my mind there's no seatbelt on the airplane shitter, absolutely the last place I wanna be when turbulence hits
lukaskywalker@reddit
This is why I never shit on planes. Even 14 hours. Forget it
Original_Ratio@reddit
Once time in South Africa, I mistakenly had a fountain drink (finding a fuel plaza with a ice and select your soft drink area outside USA very rare) forgetting the ice comes from local water. Usually I have meds but I screwed up and they were in my suitcase. Jo'burg to Dakar for refueling, Dakar to Atlanta and imodium, with me spending most of the flights occupying one of the Delta business class lavatories. Surprised they don't carry gut meds of any kind on an airliner. The only good point was enough to qualify for Diamond Elite for another year and it was only February.
anemisto@reddit
I mean, sometimes you don't have that option.
Once as a kid, I didn't pee for an entire transatlantic flight. It's a good thing there's a bathroom before immigration at MAN.
Aquur@reddit
It’ll be covered in shit and piss after one flight.
1-760-706-7425@reddit
Got caught in really bad unexpected turbulence once when I was in the middle of business. The attendants ordered me to stay in there until it was over. I really did not enjoy that.
NFTArtist@reddit
go to the toilet before the flight! I get it some people have health issues but most people seem to just stroll around during the flight
Fokazz@reddit
But I ate airport food before the flight and the bathroom is finally available
KennyGaming@reddit
This going to become the next discussion killer once we’ve wrapped up casting a billion curses about people taking bags while evacuating.
I hope I’m wrong
cerealfordinneragain@reddit
I loved to fly. Was a business traveler for 23 years. I was reassigned to a different department with zero travel. I was kinda sad but ready for the change. My last trip ended 6 hours before the Crowdstrike outage last July. Between the delays, meltdowns, diversions, and turbulence injuries, I am so happy to be on the ground and staying on the ground.
External_Junket_1413@reddit
Wear the seatbelt
iluntari@reddit
Damn, that's some intense turbulence. Glad everyone's safe!