PBH / Off Topic: do your thing / Forums (active)

When they say 'Keep your seatbelt fastened while seated even if the light is out

MIAMI - A Continental Airlines jet heading from Rio de Janeiro to Houston made an emergency stop in Miami this morning after the plane flew through fierce turbulence, seriously injuring several passengers.

According to Miami International Airport officials, 26 passengers aboard Flight 128 were hurt when the plane experienced turbulence that violently rocked the plane.

Fourteen of the injured were taken to local hospitals, fire rescue officials said. The rest were treated on the scene.

Four people were in serious condition, fire officials said.

The Boeing 767 left Rio about 9:45 p.m. Sunday and was to land in Houston at 6 a.m. local time. The plane was about an hour from Miami when it hit turbulence.

The Boeing 767 was about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic when it ran into turbulence about 4:30 a.m., according to Kathleen Bergen, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman.

It landed in Miami at 5:30 a.m.

``The crew reported hitting severe turbulence and elected to divert to Miami,'' Bergen said.

Claudio Maia's family of four was sleeping near the rear of the aircraft when the plane suddenly dropped, tossing passengers out of their seats.

His 7-year-old son, Luis, received a deep gash on his chest when he was thrown, Maia said. The metal edge of a table slashed his skin.

``I was lucky because my mother was holding me,'' said Mariana Maia, 9. She received minor abrasions to her leg.

Others did not fare so well.

One woman violently crashed into the ceiling, her head getting stuck in the frame above, according to witnesses. One of her eyes remained closed, a side of her face bloodied.

A man who wasn't wearing his seat belt kept himself from flying into the ceiling by tucking his feet beneath the seat of the passenger ahead of him.

Another woman, who stood by airline staff as they did inventory in the rear of the plane, was knocked unconscious when watches, perfume bottles and alcoholic drinks crashed into her.

For about 10 seconds, the plane shook as oxygen masks dropped into place, swinging as passengers clung to their seats.

``It felt like the plane was falling,'' said Carolina Portella, 18, who travels to Brazil every summer.

Airline staff desperately asked if a doctor was onboard, Portella said. One doctor got up from his seat in the first-class section and volunteered. Portella, fluent in Portuguese and English, translated for the doctor as he made his rounds throughout the aircraft.

An airline catering truck, which has an elevator, was used to take some of the passengers from the plane, said Lt. Elkin Sierra, a Miami-Dade fire rescue spokesman.

``It has a solid, large platform to bring patients down,'' Sierra said. ``It's safer for them and our personnel.''

Some of the passengers refused to be transported to the hospital, preferring to stay near the aircraft.

FAA investigators are at Miami International examining the plane and talking to crew members. The investigation will also look at whether other planes in the area around that time experienced any turbulence, the FAA's Bergen said.

The plane will remain in Miami until it has been cleared by the FAA. Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

By nine inch nails on Aug 3, 2009, 11:21 in Off Topic.

nine inch nails says on Aug 3, 2009, 11:22:

it is for a very good reason...

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Aug 3, 2009, 11:25:

If that was an AURBUS, we might be reading about a whole nother disaster god forbid!

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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miamimike says on Aug 3, 2009, 15:57:

Bad thing is they probably will get their Luggage stolen, remember this is South Florida, Culture of Crime

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

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babygirl says on Aug 3, 2009, 16:32:

I don't know why people don't get that? AND they're not only endangering themselves they're endangering other people around them when they become flying objects during a drop or turbulence.

Best quote of the week... "should I be taking this pill with wine?" Canadian Girls Kick Ass!

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El Expatriado says on Aug 3, 2009, 21:39:

I am waiting for it to Happpen. I was pretty scared over the South China Sea yesterday. Plane was thrown around quite a bit. I usually average 30-60 flights a year.

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