Twelve people were injured due to turbulence on a Doha-Dublin flight.
The Boeing 787-9 dreamliner experienced turbulence during its flight over Turkey, Dublin airport operator DAA said.
Upon landing shortly before 1:00 p.m. local time, Qatar Airways Flight QR017 was greeted by emergency services, including airport police, an ambulance and firefighters.
Six passengers and six crew members reported injuries. Among them, eight people were taken to hospital.
“The Dublin Airport team continues to provide comprehensive on-the-ground support to passengers and airline staff,” a DAA spokesperson said.
Operations at the airport are not affected, the DAA added, and the return flight is expected to operate normally this afternoon, “albeit with a delay.”
The National Ambulance Service said it had received pre-alert to attend the airport and was “currently on site to facilitate and support the disembarkation of passengers”.
Qatar Airways told BBC News NI in a statement that “a small number of passengers and crew suffered minor injuries in flight and are currently receiving medical treatment.”
He added: “The matter is now the subject of an internal investigation.”
Passengers said the incident was frightening and that the plane appeared to be falling from the sky for about 20 seconds during the catering service.
A man named Cathal, who was returning home to Ireland from Doha, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the seat belt signs were not on during the incident and that his dinner had flown out of his pocket. knees.
Another passenger, Eileen, said it was the “worst experience” she had ever had on a plane.
Her partner Tony said he had to hold her to the ground because she was not wearing her seatbelt and was asleep when the plane hit turbulence.
“I’m in no rush to get back on a plane, I can tell you that,” Eileen said.
The incident follows the death of a 73-year-old British man on a flight to Singapore which experienced serious turbulence earlier this week.
More than 100 people were injured, 20 of whom are in intensive care with spinal injuries.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong apologized, offering his “deepest apologies to everyone affected” by the “sudden extreme turbulence”.
The Singapore government has promised a thorough investigation.
