Two individuals on a British Airways flight suffered broken ankles due to turbulence while en route to London. The incident occurred 20 minutes after the seatbelt signs were turned on during the flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on December 6, 2024.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation revealed that the turbulence, lasting between 10 and 15 seconds, was perceived as moderate by the captain. One of the injured passengers mentioned experiencing a sudden upward and sideways movement while returning to their seat from the restroom, resulting in a broken ankle. Another injured individual, a cabin crew member, fell and broke an ankle while trying to secure her seatbelt during the turbulence.
The turbulence occurred over the Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland. The captain considered diverting to airports in Canada or Iceland but decided to continue to Heathrow, where ambulances awaited to transport the three injured individuals to the hospital.
It is mandatory for passengers to wear their seatbelts when instructed. The captain activated the seatbelt signs in advance of the turbulence after monitoring weather conditions on his tablet device. The AAIB highlighted that more passengers could have been affected if the precaution had not been taken.
British Airways emphasized safety as a top priority and commended the crew for managing the situation effectively. In a separate incident, a passenger passed away due to a suspected heart attack during severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow to Singapore, causing injuries to several other passengers. Witnesses described a dramatic drop on the Boeing 777 aircraft, leading to injuries and damage inside the cabin.