Turbulence affecting Boeing 787 Dreamliner leaves 12 injured

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
26 May 2024 19:39

Twelve people have been injured during a flight from Doha to Dublin, on board a 787 Dreamliner, which has been the center of safety-related controversy.

A Boeing eco-Demonstrator Explorer, a 787-10 Dreamliner, sits on the tarmac at their campus in North Charleston, S.C., May 30, 2023 (AP)

Twelve people were injured during a stint of turbulence while flying with Qatar Airways from Doha, Qatar, to Ireland, Reuters reported.

According to Dublin Airport, despite the turbulence, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane landed safely and as scheduled, slightly short of 1:00 p.m. Once the plane landed in Dublin, emergency crews, including Airport Police and the Fire and Rescue Department, tended to the six passengers and 6 crew members who sustained injuries during their flight.

Irish broadcaster RTE stated that turbulence lasted for about 20 seconds during the food and beverage service, while Qatar Airways reported a "small number" of injuries without directly mentioning the incident. However, an internal investigation will be launched, the airline noted.

Are the 787 Dreamliners safe?

On May 7, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it was "investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records."

According to the FAA, Boeing voluntarily informed them in April that it "may not have completed required inspections to confirm adequate bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on certain 787 Dreamliner airplanes."

Scott Stocker, the Boeing official in charge of the 787 programs, stated in an internal document obtained by The Guardian that the issue was reported by an employee and was a case of "misconduct", but not "an immediate safety of flight issue."

As per the memo, several people were "violating company policies by not performing a required test, but recording the work as having been completed," detailing that the regulator was informed and "swift and serious corrective action" was being taken.