Sunday, December 22, 2024

Emergency crews rush to Dublin airport after turbulence on Qatar Airways flight leaves 12 people on board hurt – a week after British man, 73, died on Singapore Airlines jet

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Emergency crews have rushed to Dublin airport after six passengers and six crew members on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha were injured. 

The 12 people were hurt after experiencing turbulence over Turkey.

Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport said: ‘Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely at Dublin Airport shortly before 13.00 on Sunday as scheduled. 

‘The aircraft was met by emergency services upon landing, including Dublin Airport’s Police, Fire and Rescue services, due to 6 passengers and 6 crew [12 total] on board reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey earlier in the flight. 

‘The Dublin Airport team continues to provide full assistance on the ground to passengers and airline crew.’

Emergency crews have rushed to Dublin airport after six passengers and six crew members on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha were injured (File photo)

Dublin International Airport (pictured) where emergency crews have attended 12 people who have been injured due to turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin

Dublin International Airport (pictured) where emergency crews have attended 12 people who have been injured due to turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin

A spokesperson for Qatar Airways said: ‘Qatar Airways can confirm that flight QR017 a Boeing B787-9 from Doha to Dublin has landed safely. A small number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries in flight and are now receiving medical attention. 

‘The matter is now subject to an internal investigation. The safety and security of our passengers and crew are our top priority.’ 

It comes after a British man died on a Singapore Airlines flight after extreme turbulence on a Heathrow-Singapore journey.

Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old musical theatre director from Gloucestershire died from a suspected heart attack, officials said. 

More than 70 people were injured in the incident, with Mr Kitchen’s wife Linda thought to be among those in hospital, she suffered serious spinal injuries.

The retired insurance worker and his wife were heading abroad on a six-week holiday of a lifetime to South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia when disaster struck around 11 hours into their flight from Heathrow.

The aircraft hit an air pocket and plummeted an astonishing 6,000ft in just five minutes, with the sudden drop unleashing mayhem onboard and forcing the plane to make an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.

Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, ran the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol

Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, ran the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol

The 73-year-old died from a suspected heart attack, Thai officials said. His wife is believed to be in hospital

The 73-year-old died from a suspected heart attack, Thai officials said. His wife is believed to be in hospital

Pictured: Passengers are seen in the cabin after the incident today, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above

Pictured: Passengers are seen in the cabin after the incident today, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above

Terrified passengers have described how they had little to no warning to put their seatbelts on before the aircraft suddenly dropped while the crew were serving breakfast, with one passenger saying people were ‘launched into the ceiling’ as the plane fell through the sky.

Of the 211 passengers and 18 crew on board, Thai authorities said 71 people had been sent for treatment, six of whom were seriously injured, with many sustaining lacerations to the head as they were thrown upwards.

Close friend Steve Dimond, 73, who lives a few doors down from Mr Kitchen’s three-bed home in leafy Thornbury, said: ‘You wouldn’t know it, he carried on as normal and was very fit and active.

‘He was very involved with amateur dramatics and was helping me make scenery for our new production.

‘He was a good singer, a fine actor, he was on the committee, he loved musical theatre.

‘He and his wife like live music, all sorts, folk jazz, everything. He’s known his wife since they were teenagers, they are a lovely couple.’

Qatar Airways ran into difficulty in February last year when one of its Boeing Dreamliners came within seconds of hitting the water after taking off from Hamad International Airport, the carrier’s hub in Doha.

The 787-8, registration A7-BCO, departed Doha at 2am on January 10 (11pm GMT, January 9), bound for Copenhagen.

But leaving the ground the Dreamliner, with the first officer in control, climbed to around 1,800 feet – but then lost 1,000 feet within 24 seconds for reasons unknown, according to the AV Herald.

With the aircraft descending at a rate of 50 feet a second, the captain took over, pulling the aircraft up at around 800 feet – or 16 seconds – above the Persian Gulf, mnarrowly missing a crash into the sea.

The airline launched an investigation into the incident.

This is a breaking story, more to follow 

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