An Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Phoenix endured severe turbulence Thursday afternoon, resulting in injuries to several crew members and a passenger, according to airline statements and interviews. Flight 700 encountered the unexpected conditions at approximately 2:30 p.m., and by the time it landed at 3:10 p.m., the FAA had begun to probe into the incident as a medical emergency was declared, as reported by 12News.
Upon the flight's arrival, medical authorities at the gate attended to the injured. While the passenger was not transported to the hospital, several crew members required further medical care. In a company statement, Alaska Airlines extended apologies for the distress caused to passengers and commended the crew for their professionalism during the ordeal, a sentiment echoed in an article on Arizona's Family.
Turbulence is typically an atypical occurrence, with veteran pilots explaining that extreme conditions like those experienced by Flight 700 are particularly rare. Captain Ron Nielson, a retired commercial pilot, described severe turbulence as an anomaly in his career. "I've been in, I'd say severe turbulence maybe a half dozen times over my career, and sometimes it's like riding on a big wave up and down," he explained in an interview with 12News. Another seasoned pilot, John Washington, pointed to unusual weather patterns over the Pacific Northwest that could be contributing to the unpredictability of these air currents.
In light of the turbulence event, experts are highlighting the heightened risk to certain groups aboard aircraft. The most susceptible to turbulence-related injuries are commonly flight attendants who might not be seated during such events, and young children, particularly those under two who are not required to be in a secured seat. As Captain Nielson advised, "We recommend putting them in an FAA approved seat." Cpt. Nielson added, "You don't have to be paranoid, but always keep your seat belt fastened so the two of those combined, and you're not going to get hurt," 12News noted.
