Many instances have been recorded recently where plane passengers have been injured or died due to sudden onset of turbulence during flights. The most current case involved a Singapore Airlines flight encountering severe turbulence over Myanmar due to which 30 passengers were injured and one died of a suspected heart attack. A Qatar Airways Doha-Dublin flight cruising over Turkey hit undetected air pockets which resulted in rapid descent of the aircraft and injuries to 12 passengers. There is both detectable and undetected turbulence ( clear air turbulence), the latter being more dangerous because it is invisible to both radar and satellites. Injuries due to aircraft encountering adverse weather conditions could range from bruises, cuts and concussion to fractures and spinal trauma. Climate change leading to increased temperature differences between different atmospheric layers, jet stream activity, chemtrails and thunderstorm activity also has a significant role to play in frequent occurence of intense turbulence. Aviation authorities should formulate laws making it mandatory for air travellers to keep their seat belts fastened at least for all short haul flights, this might go some way in preventing trauma and casualties.
