Qantas Turbulence Injures 3 Crew, One Concussed

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Severe turbulence on a Qantas flight left one crew member with a broken ankle - but what happened next exposed a dangerous safety gap.

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The May 2024 incident aboard a Sydney-Brisbane Boeing 737 caught crew off guard when turbulence hit just ONE minute after seatbelt signs were turned on.

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Pilots expected mild bumps but never warned cabin crew about potential rough air. When turbulence struck, three of four crew members were injured while checking the cabin.

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One flight attendant suffered a fractured ankle and couldn't move from the galley floor. Did you know 80% of serious turbulence injuries happen to cabin crew?

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A dangerous communication breakdown followed: the captain didn't recall getting requests for more preparation time despite being told about injured crew.

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During landing, FOUR people remained unrestrained in the rear galley helping the injured crew member - creating additional risks during this critical flight phase.

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After landing, only the crew member with the broken ankle received medical attention. The other injured crew? Left unchecked with potentially serious consequences.

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One flight attendant later worked MULTIPLE flights while unknowingly suffering from concussion symptoms. Another self-diagnosed a facial injury the next day.

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Qantas has now mandated immediate doctor consultation for injured crew and requires fitness assessments after turbulence events - but only after the ATSB investigation.

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This incident reveals how easily communication failures and missed medical checks can put airline crew and passengers at risk during routine flights.

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