Turbulence Injures 40 on Manila-Bound Flight

Some 40 passengers were injured after turbulence hit an international flight bound for Manila on Saturday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Sunday.

The CAAP said at 3:18 p.m. Saturday (7:18 a.m. GMT), the pilot of Qatar Airlines flight QR932 requested priority landing from Manila tower due to some passengers sustaining minor injuries because of the incident.

The aircraft, which took off in Doha, landed safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with medics providing medical assistance to about 40 passengers, including three children and two flight attendants, who sustained minor injuries such as abrasions, it said.

Upon investigation, the CAAP said it was determined that the incident was triggered by clear air turbulence.

Clear air turbulence is not associated with clouds and therefore cannot be detected visually or by conventional weather radar. It can strike even in the absence of clouds and pilots have no time to warn passengers and crew to get strapped to their seats.