By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On Wednesday, a Delta flight from Utah to Amsterdam was diverted to Minneapolis due to “significant turbulence.” The aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, landed safely, and emergency responders met the flight. Medical personnel evaluated passengers and crew, resulting in twenty-five individuals being transported to local hospitals. Delta emphasized that safety is their top priority and that their Delta Care Team is providing support to the affected customers.
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Turbulence forces diversion of Delta flight, sending 25 people to the hospital. It’s hard to imagine the sudden and terrifying experience those passengers went through. Flight tracking showed a dramatic shift in altitude, a sharp climb followed by a rapid descent of over a thousand feet in a matter of seconds. That kind of sudden movement is enough to throw even the most seasoned traveler off guard, and it’s completely understandable why so many people were injured. It really drives home the importance of keeping your seatbelt fastened at all times, a lesson learned, quite literally, the hard way.
As someone who’s had experience with injury cases involving airlines, my strongest advice is to always wear your seatbelt. Not just during takeoff and landing, but throughout the entire flight, even while the plane is on the ground. There’s also the potential for serious injury during ground operations. If more people followed this simple precaution, it would definitely reduce the number of unfortunate incidents I handle. There’s something about being in the air that sometimes makes people forget the fundamental laws of physics.
Thinking back on it, I was once on a flight with extremely bad turbulence. Even though I was buckled up, I still hit my head on the overhead compartment. It was chaos. People were sick, the smell was overwhelming, and the movement almost made me join them. Drinks were flying everywhere, and flight attendants were struggling to maintain their balance. It was genuinely frightening. This type of experience really solidifies my belief in buying a separate seat for my child, even though they are young enough to travel as a lap child.
This is a common debate, and it’s a good point. The potential danger of traveling as a lap child is real. Imagine trying to secure a 10-15 pound bowling ball during a roller coaster ride; it’s practically impossible. The whole situation really reminds me of the sentiment, “because we’re delta airline and life is a fucking nightmare.” It’s that kind of unpredictability that makes me keep my seatbelt on. It is not very comfortable, but at least it may save me from serious injury.
The risk assessment skills of some passengers seem to be lacking. It makes me a bit concerned to see how many people get up and move around the cabin during active turbulence, when the seatbelt sign is on. There are people who choose to risk an injury in the bathroom instead of staying seated. Is it possible that incidents of this type are on the rise, possibly due to climate change influencing turbulence? The atmosphere appears to be carrying more energy now.
The aeronautical engineers I’ve worked with have not necessarily instilled greater confidence in my flying experience. It always make me a bit nervous to fly. Every time I hit some bad turbulence I think “You sloppy fucks and your inability to use units have finally got me.” It’s a visceral reaction, especially if you are traveling across the ocean. One flight on my list of bad experiences included a flight from Salt Lake City direct to Amsterdam, and the route is not without its potential challenges.
There’s also the question of whether safety standards have been negatively impacted by political changes, and if they may have potentially made these incidents more frequent. Cutting back on air traffic controllers, or dismantling safety committees, is bound to raise concerns about safety. However, it has been a while since a substantial reduction in air traffic controllers.
And while seatbelts alone aren’t a guarantee of safety, keeping them on, even loosely, significantly increases your protection during turbulence. So, all those “it’s just turbulence, don’t worry” statements need to be reconsidered. As for comfort, it’s not a priority when I am traveling, and safety is paramount.
The number of people I see standing in the aisle on every flight makes me nervous. They create a genuine hazard, and people need to remember that they’re flying through the air, not walking down a street. There are reasons why the seatbelt sign is on and why people are seated.
But then again, if the plane is violently tossed about, whether you are belted in or not, your priorities are going to change quickly. You’ll probably need a shower and a change of clothes rather than the bathroom. It really is crazy to see people take seatbelts for granted.
Even getting ready to go to the bathroom is probably one of the times the seatbelt is unbuckled. It’s a natural human need that clashes with safety protocols.
It’s impressive the strength of a modern passenger jet. The wings can bend considerably without breaking, and the plane itself is built to withstand a lot, even when people are injured. The plane is going to make it to an airport and it will land safely.
Some turbulence can be truly terrifying. I once experienced a flight where the descent was filled with constant turbulence and people were screaming. The flight attendants tried to make announcements, but all that came through the speaker was quick breathing. I’ve also heard stories of flights with similar experiences.
There was one where the flight attendants were serving food before the turbulence became incredibly intense. The plane had to circle several times before the plane could land, and passengers were told to get into the brace position because they were low on fuel. It is never a good sign.
I don’t think I will ever stop wearing a seatbelt. And I will probably always be terrified of flying. The question of lap children having access to an oxygen mask is an interesting one. The lack of secured safety for lap children is another area for review.
Expecting parents to hold onto a baby during moderate or severe turbulence is dangerous. However, the economic reality of buying a separate seat diverts some passengers to driving instead of flying, and car accidents are statistically more dangerous for infants.
And finally, being tossed around during a flight isn’t exactly ideal, whether you are in the bathroom or anywhere else. At least in the bathroom, the space is small and the potential impact is largely on yourself.