Injured air passengers fit to leave hospital

By Li Xinran  |   2008-7-7  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

PASSENGERS wounded in a Shanghai Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence on Friday left hospital later the same day, but one flight attendant was moved to a ward to treat her injuries, Beijing News reported yesterday.

More than 20 people on board flight FM9105 from Shanghai to Beijing were injured by the turbulence, which rocked the plane during the last 25 minutes of the journey.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Tianjin airport.

The plane took off as normal at 3:30pm, but was reported to have dived for nearly 10 seconds about 5:20pm. Passengers had eaten their dinner and attendants were collecting trays when the plane hit turbulence, Beijing News reported.

Many passengers were hit on the head by luggage falling out of overhead carriers, while the attendants were knocked down to the cabin floor.

The accident caused injuries to 14 passengers as well as eight attendants, said the report.

After its emergency landing in Tianjin, a city neighboring Beijing, most passengers were sent by bus about 10pm to the capital.

All the injured passengers arrived at their destination early on Saturday after receiving emergency treatment in a military hospital in Tianjin. Some attendants remained in hospital under observation for injured noses or necks.

The plane had to lower its altitude for landing during the air blast, said the customer service department of Shanghai Airlines, and there was no machinery malfunction.

A storm was to blame for the sudden blast of turbulence, said the airline.

Compensation for injured passengers was still being discussed, the airline said.