5 injured after American Airlines plane hit by turbulence near Narita

Tuesday 27th October, 06:58 AM JST

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bdiego at 08:25 AM JST - 27th October

Pretty much guaranteed that all 5 were not wearing their seatbelts.
ebisen at 08:29 AM JST - 27th October

bdlego - why is this so? I've had a piece of luggage almost falling on my head once in a clear air turbulence , how would a seatbelt protect me from this??
GW at 08:30 AM JST - 27th October

this is a common occurance near NRT, it is usually Japanese as many remove their seat belts as soon as the ok light is on or not. Many idiots on planes dont realize its prudent to leave the belt on when seated, some of those end up in the hospital like these 5, mild bit a Darwin at work
The758 at 08:47 AM JST - 27th October

mild bit a Darwin at work

I agree: far too many people these days ignore the seat belt sign. What kind of turbulence was this? I'm guess moderate as severe would probably have resulted in more injuries (and TV crews showing up.)
powsurfing at 08:56 AM JST - 27th October

If the 5 people were indeed not wearing their seat belts this shouldn't be news. They were just being stupid, and they had what was coming to them. Those 777 planes are very comfortable. The airlines should show photos of the injured and set an example of them. This is what happens when you ignore the seat belt sign.....
noborito at 08:57 AM JST - 27th October

Two weeks ago I actually witnessed a woman stand up during takeoff. The flight attendant told me that it happens all the time. Japanese never think.
chotto at 09:03 AM JST - 27th October

These 5 were obviously not wearing their seatbelts. Going to the toilet?+ Unofortunate and my sympathies. Not wearing a seatbelt 'cos you don't want to; tough.
Miyaratmosphere at 09:11 AM JST - 27th October

Two weeks ago I actually witnessed a woman stand up during takeoff. The flight attendant told me that it happens all the time. Japanese never think.

Oh my god, how typically Japanese...hahahaha I wonder if they know how to interpreter the signs at all.. should they be written in japanese for their own understanding? LOL
Yelnats at 12:10 PM JST - 27th October

Seat belts can only do so much. I watched all the doors open up in the luggage racks a number of years back. Those without seat belts on could run away. It was an interesting flight.
nandakandamanda at 03:29 PM JST - 27th October

You have to undo your belt to get exercise, go to the restrooms etc. At any time on any flight there will be 5-10 people in movement around the plane. We do not know how these injuries occurred, but failure to wear a belt when seated has to be a candidate.

Some people above are laughing at the stupidity of the Japanese, but I see at least as much lack of common sense on Korean flights. Some people stand up as the plane's wheels make the first contact with the runway. Maybe in-flight commonsense is not so common.
madammiz at 05:21 PM JST - 27th October

And have you taken any Chinese flights? I had the experience of taxiing down the runway with the stewardesses collecting all the coffee cups and putting the tray tables up (cuz we had been delayed for 90 mins so they served us breakfast on the tarmac - then decided to take off!). People just dont think. Everyone is in too much of a hurry to get from A to B - never mind it could be dangerous!! I guess that is our lives now.......
usaexpat at 11:36 PM JST - 27th October

Ah, Narita pretty much constant turbulance. I was on a flight in from Nagasaki a few years ago where the plane was rolling side to side coming in and the pilot was fighting to land. I had an image of one of the wings digging in and reducing us to a fireball on the runway. I don't know if it's the location or what but turbulance and wind sheer at Narita is awful.
nandakandamanda at 12:31 AM JST - 28th October

On the TV news they were saying that all pilots had been warned at that time of possible downbursts and windshear around the leading edges of the approaching typhoon, just where they were flying through.
bdiego at 03:18 AM JST - 28th October

ebisen, it wouldn't and you weren't injured either. Which is why it's pretty much guaranteed if 5 people are injured during turbulence, it is simply and only because they weren't wearing seatbelts. Wouldn't protect you against lightning strikes either, but yeah the other 99% of critical injuries and deaths yes.
bdiego at 03:21 AM JST - 28th October

nakada, The vast majority of the time, these injuries happen well after the "fasten seatbelt" sign goes on for the very reason that the plane is in or is entering high turbulence. So while I understand people will walk the aisles anyways in disregard, that's still their own fault. I don't see how this has anything to do with the Japanese, as you've pointed out it just gets worse the rest of Asia. Previous incident like this was off of Brazil.