43 injured on Northwest Airlines plane due to turbulence

Friday 20th February, 09:53 PM JST

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archiebald at 08:55 AM JST - 23rd February

Triller, No airline staff here. Over the past 30 years, I have flown to every continent, through all weathers on around 1,000 individual flights.

Grow a spine and admit that you screwed up because you were too arrogant to listen to the safety advice given on every flight.
hannari at 09:54 AM JST - 23rd February

Triller: you keep mentioning that

even though the attendants and pilots themselves ignore the safety tool, when they are flying comfortably in calm weather.

I may be wrong, but judging by the context, I understand you're trying to say that because the flight staff walk around during the flight, the fasten seatbelt sign is something that has no significant meaning??

The flight attendants are, as you say, professionals. As they walk around during the flight to serve you drinks, they are in a sense risking their own lives for the sake of your comfort. For the actual descent/ascent, they do have seats and they are definately required to buckle up. Until then, they have all kinds of work to do for your comfort and safety.

Really, you're like a student who sleeps during all the classes and come test day, complain that you weren't told about it. Grow up.
doombird at 12:38 PM JST - 23rd February

I think that arguing whether the airline or the passengers are at fault over seatbelts and announcements is slightly missing the larger point.

It was wrong not to declare an emergency and land as soon as possible if there was even ONE person lying on the floor with a broken neck. If the crew had acted appropriately, it might have been less than 30 minutes before the injured people could get treatment. Had their injuries been more severe and the wait to land been longer, people might have died.

That said, no one DID die, and death and injury are a risk you take any time you fly. Also, by the time the plane is in a holding pattern to land, hasn't the official descent begun? I thought the seatbelt signs were generally turned on and announcements made to return to seats by then.
Triller at 05:02 PM JST - 23rd February

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090222TDY02305.htm

A person close to major domestic airlines deplored incident, saying: "It is vital for cabin attendants to keep in touch over the intercom to check the situation in the cabin, even if they have to be seated. I don't understand why they didn't do so before the aircraft landed."

The Japan Transport Safety Board question the crew members about incident, suspecting they failed to check whether the passengers at the back of the airplane were seated and had fastened their seat belts.
bushlover at 11:11 AM JST - 24th February

Flight Attendants are not baby sitters. Responsible adults are assumed to be able to read and understand signs indicating seatbelts are to be fastened. Who cares what 'a person clone to major domestic airlines' says? That person is as spoiled as you are.
Triller at 09:46 PM JST - 24th February

The primary and overriding responsibility of flight attendants is passenger safetyAir safety - They then must "secure the cabin" ensuring tray tables are stowed, seats are in their upright positions, armrests down and carry ons stowed correctly and seatbelts fastened prior to takeoff or landing. PRIORITY>>> when I woke up my food tray was still down and we were descending to land. Where was my flight attendant. And, if there was a danger of turbulence which was very clearly seen in the weather maps, then why didn't the flight attendants make sure everything was secure. Sorry for wondering where the authorities, trained professionals were in this emergency situation and why weren't they breifed as to the gravity of the weather situation. If the whole plane was made aware of the impending turbulence during landing, then why were so many people milling around and without seatbelts? Just wondering! Anybody?

Air safety is a broad term encompassing the theory, investigation and categorisation of flight failures, and the prevention ... . They are often tasked with the secondary function of seeing to the care and comfort of the passengers, insofar as this does not interfere with their safety responsibilities. They are often perceived by the flying public as waiting staff because there is not a full understanding of the career, the majority of their regular and rare duties are safety related and are the priority above customer service.

Safety Responsibilities The majority of a flight attendant's duties are safety related. Prior to each flight, flight attendants attend a safety briefing with the pilots & purser. During this briefing they go over safety and emergency checklists, the locations and amounts of emergency equipment and other features specific to that aircraft type. Boarding particulars are verified, such as special needs passengers, small children travelling as unaccompanied minors or VIP's.

Weather conditions are discussed including anticipated turbulence.

Prior to each flight a safety check is conducted to ensure all equipment such as lifevests, flashlights and firefighting equipment are on board, in the right quantity, and in proper condition. Any unserviceable or missing items must be reported and rectified prior to takeoff. They must monitor the cabin for any unusual smells or situations and maintain certain precautions such as keeping doors disarmed or open during fueling on the ground. They assist with the loading of carry-on baggage, checking for weight, size and dangerous goods.

They then must "secure the cabin" ensuring tray tables are stowed, seats are in their upright positions, armrests down and carry ons stowed correctly and seatbelts fastened prior to takeoff. END OF STORY! Not quite! - Deliquent crew responsible for life threatening situation that could have easily been avoided by "securing the cabin". The fundamental responsibility of every flight crew.........That is all!
cleo at 11:02 PM JST - 24th February

why were so many people milling around and without seatbelts?

Perhaps for the same reason your seatbelt wasn't fastened and your food tray was still down. They were waiting for someone else to force them to do what they had already been told to do. aka stupidity.

Give it up already. You got hurt because you didn't heed the seatbelt sign. That is all.
bushlover at 02:41 AM JST - 25th February

[Where was my flight attendant. And, if there was a danger of turbulence which was very clearly seen in the weather maps, then why didn't the flight attendants make sure everything was secure.]

Maybe they were in the process of doing just that but the turbulence hit before they got to your section. You assume everyone else to be delinquent of their duty but forgot to include yourself there.
elbudamexicano at 09:13 AM JST - 25th February

I agree whole heartedly with TRILLER and think the rest of the folks here have no common sense and have never used a LAWYER, so I hope the Northworst does get sued because they are too stupid and stingy. Yes too stupid to know that having people with BROKEN NECKS on board due to turbulance IS AN EMERGENCY and I guess the idiot captain of this flight did not want to call to much attention huh? I can not stand Northworst Airlines!
cleo at 09:21 AM JST - 25th February

having people with BROKEN NECKS on board due to turbulance IS AN EMERGENCY

If the person who sustained a broken neck, or those with other injuries requiring medical treatment, want to sue the airline for not getting them down as quickly as possible, then I think they have a case. But suing for a broken neck caused by one's own lack of common sense and failure to heed the seatbelt sign is a suit too far.
Triller at 02:37 PM JST - 26th February

By the way, the pilot circled the airport above the storm system for over 20 minutes. Plenty of time for him to communicate with his flight crew to prepare the passengers for a bumpy landing. Why were some trays down, people out of their seats, and seatbelts not secured? I understand the primary responsibility of the pilot is the passengers and his or her crew. If he passed on that there was inclement weather with the urgency necessary to avoid this disaster then we wouldn't arguing this point and people wouldn't be blaming the victims. The pilot dropped the ball. PERIOD! ask the 6 crew members who went to the hospital as patients.
nigelboy at 03:04 PM JST - 26th February

Bottom line.

747 carries approximately 400 passengers. About 90% of those weren't injured because they had common sense. (wearing seatbelts while seated as the pilot advised them to do when he took the seatbelt sign off). About 10% chose to ignore the rules because they are ignorant or dumb.
Ayesha at 09:26 AM JST - 27th February

The major issue here, ignored completely by CNN and the US media, was the failure of the Northwest crew to react promply AFTER this incident. No emergency declared, regular landing 30 minutes later, pilot said only two injured, so 1 ambulance was waiting! This is one for the lawyers.
Triller at 01:40 PM JST - 21st June

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6rg9M1BdpI&feature=related

Count how many times NWA, the captain and crew dropped the ball. Failed to inform the fire department with accurate information about the injured which caused a delay of about 80 minutes. The airline expert recommended the pilot should have lit the seat belt sign much earlier considering the low pressure storm front moving in. Also, he made no announcement about any possibility of turbulence. He lit the seat belt minute before he began his final descent. Meanwhile Japan airlines circling the airport at the same time reported multiple hits from turbulence. Most of the people posting on this thread are airline personnel and figure the pilot gave plenty of warning. WRONG! He also failed to inform the air traffic controllers with accurate information. When we get the full report on the investigation, then all the smart a$$ people, airline employees and pilots posting here will suck an egg. I have less respect for professional flight attendants and pilots after reading this tripe from arrogant and glorified airline wait staff. Get a degree and a real job.....The pilot lit the seat belt light minutes before he started to descend into the clouds. He failed to inform the ground crew of the injured, he never mentioned anything about a low pressure system moving in and since Narita is well known for turbulence, aka FEDEX March 22nd, 2009 (two pilots died landing in severe wind sheer. Count how many mis-steps the pilot and crew made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6rg9M1BdpI&feature=related

Then watch this video about how discontented NWA employees were at the time of the flight. There was an older lady, who should have retired more than a decade ago, going around telling everyone that if you weren't wearing your seatbelt you can't sue. She was the one who was responsible for the area where most of the injuries occurred. She was a disgruntled employee and could have cared less about doing her job and more about sticking it to the company and thus their customers. We will sue and the black box will show that the pilot and crew were negligent. Watch and see. NWA video of discontent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuPLKuoQ0Rk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfvel1Qe0Y
Triller at 07:00 PM JST - 30th June

I truly hope the investigation for this incident reveals the truth to the dedicated and well trained flight attendants and pilots on this thread who have complete contempt for passengers and customers. It's obvious why this all happened. It's because the NWA flight attendants and pilots could give a flying cRp3w about their passengers. Some people already settled, showing some degree of guilt on NWA part. 6 months and the investigation will reveal how negligent the captain and crew were on this flight. If I had any respect for pilots or flight crews, it's gone now. Ciao for now children.....