21 injured by turbulence on Air Canada flight
An investigation is underway after in-flight turbulence on an Air Canada flight left 21 passengers injured, including three children.
Flight AC088, en route to Toronto from Shanghai, was diverted to Calgary and was met by the emergency services.
A statement from the airline last night said: "At this time the airline can confirm that passengers and crew have been examined by medical personnel following turbulence encountered en route and 21 passengers have been transferred directly to local hospitals from the airport comprising eight with non-life threatening injuries and 13 for observation.
"Air Canada will be making arrangements to accommodate all other passengers including those continuing on to Toronto."
The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 332 passengers and 19 crew at the time.
Klaus Goersch, the airline’s executive VP and COO, also issued a statement.
"Our focus today has been on those passengers who have been injured in this incident and those other passengers on the aircraft for whom this has been a very unsettling experience," he said
"Safety is always our first priority and so any incident involving the safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost concern."
He praised the ‘care and professionalism’ of the flight crew and thanked employees on the ground in Calgary and at other stations for their ‘important contributions in response’.
"I would also like to thank the various agencies in Calgary who responded to this incident quickly and professionally. Their actions in helping us take care of our customers is deeply appreciated.
"We are grateful that the first passengers are already being released from hospital."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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