MH1 severe turbulence

[Quickstatus]

4/6/16: MH1 LHR-KUL A380
Severe turbulence over Bay of Bengal
Seat belt sign was already on as turbulence predicted
Passengers with "minor injuries"


One passenger was reported as saying the aircraft "dropped for 20 sec or so". However the usual publicly available flight monitoring services like Flightaware and Flightradar so not indicate any "drop" thoughI think over the Bay of Bengal, flight positions are only estimated.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/3177194...ries-on-board-malaysia-airlines-flight/#page1

 

[jb747]

...ah, now who hasn't done up their seat belts?

Sadly, many airlines have a strange system in which the cabin crew will be walking about whilst the seat belt signs are on. Talk about teaching the passengers to take no notice of the signs. I was very surprised to see ANZ doing this just recently.

 

[juddles]

That crack in the overhead bin must have taken some effort!!

 

[Happy Trails]

That crack in the overhead bin must have taken some effort!!

Hopefully from a piece of baggage and not someone's head.

 

[jb747]

Hopefully from a piece of baggage and not someone's head.

The latter is much more likely.

 

[Happy Trails]

The latter is much more likely.

Sad, but true.

 

[Quickstatus]

...ah, now who hasn't done up their seat belts

Pity the cracked overhead bin pic did not include the seat number, or it could have been from wandering pax or crew


Edit ; It does show row 80 and it appears that the pic is of the window seats.

 

[jb747]

Wandering anybody is just as bad. 80 is near a galley, so it could even have been from a cart, which doubly shows the folly of letting cabin crew keep working with the signs on. And of course, whatever goes up, comes back down again, but generally not at 1G.

 

[BAM1748]

Pity the cracked overhead bin pic did not include the seat number, or it could have been from wandering pax or crew

Generally if bad you hear the "could passengers and crew please take their seats", well on western airlines anyway.

 

[Quickstatus]

When the aircraft was over the Bay of Bengal it was approx 2.75-1.5 hours from landing. This would be the "wandering" time prior to landing and probably a busy time for cabin crew which unfortunately and suddenly became much "busier"

JB747,

Most passengers would never have felt a vertical 1G acceleration for a significant period of time (unless they are into extreme sports). Do you know at what acceleration would passengers perceive as "falling".

 

[jb747]

Generally if bad you hear the "could passengers and crew please take their seats", well on western airlines anyway.

Bad phrase anyway. That's asking....

 

[jb747]

When the aircraft was over the Bay of Bengal it was approx 2.75-1.5 hours from landing. This would be the "wandering" time prior to landing and probably a busy time for cabin crew.

If the seat belt sign is on, then 'wandering' time is over.

Most passengers would never have felt a vertical 1G acceleration for a significant period of time (unless they are into extreme sports). Do you know at what acceleration would passengers perceive as "falling".

Actually all passengers have. They live in a 1G gravity field. Who knows what passengers perceive...but there's always someone whose perception varies pretty dramatically with reality, and others who get it exactly. You only have to read media reports to see that....

To hit the roof you need a NEGATIVE G figure. Zero will just give you a version of the vomit comet. To recover from the negative G, you'll need a figure greater than +1. Lets call it 2G. So, having been flicked to the roof by the -1G, you then come back down on to your seat, the fittings, or your neighbours at 2G. It's not surprising that people are badly hurt in these events, and it's sad they happen at all, given that even a loose seat belt will stop you moving.

 

[Quickstatus]

I do recall the few times Ive flown where significant turbulence has occured, when SBsign comes on, the CSM reminds passengers to take seat. Only once Ive heard the flight deck announce (paraphrasing) "All passengers and crew take their seats" and literally it was a rush by cabin crew to put everything nearly away and run to their seats. So it seems to be stratified in some way.

 

[jb747]

I do recall the few times Ive flown where significant turbulence has occured, when SBsign comes on, the CSM reminds passengers to take seat. Only once Ive heard the flight deck announce (paraphrasing) "All passengers and crew take their seats" and literally it was a rush by cabin crew to put everything nearly away and run to their seats. So it seems to be stratified in some way.

That's not QF. If we put the signs on for anything other than landing, it will be accompanied by an announcement from the flight deck. We have two choices of announcement, but the only difference is the level of urgency.

 

[dajop]

Sadly, many airlines have a strange system in which the cabin crew will be walking about whilst the seat belt signs are on.

SQ do this regularly, although when it gets serious .... "Cabin crew secure cabin and be seated" , or "Cabin Crew immediately be seated" along with announcement that all passengers are to remain seated and ensure seatbelts securely fastened .... I often wonder if the seat belt sign during low level turbulence is all about suspending hot beverage service .....

Of course the lack of commonsense of passengers know no bounds, the other day on NH, the seatbelt sign came on, several loud announcements in multiple languages, lights in cabins flashed, the cabins shake, rattling and rolling a bit ... so what does old mate in row 1 do? Get up and stuff around in the overhead locker for the next 3-4 minutes and then sits down without closing overhead locker. From my row 5 seat I motioned to the FA strapped into their crew seat nearby that the locker was open, so they had to get up and close it.

 

[docjames]

That's not QF. If we put the signs on for anything other than landing, it will be accompanied by an announcement from the flight deck. We have two choices of announcement, but the only difference is the level of urgency.

"Please be seated" and "be seated immediately"?

 

[jb747]

You never say please if it's an order....!

 

[Melburnian1]

Sadly, many airlines have a strange system in which the cabin crew will be walking about whilst the seat belt signs are on. Talk about teaching the passengers to take no notice of the signs. I was very surprised to see ANZ doing this just recently.

Excellent point.

I have observed this at times on QF and VA not to mention numerous international, non Australian domiciled carriers.

Are they immune to the laws of physics?

If a passenger said anything, it may be regarded as 'inappropriate' by some crew members even though it would be unpleasant for all concerned if a crew member was hurt.

I have also observed on numerous airlines cabin crew being slow to secure food and drink carts when the tech crew member or cabin supervisor advises us all to have our seat belts on, or the warning sign is lit. It would be unfair to expect these trolleys to be secured in 30 seconds: the staff member(s) have to push or pull them down the aisle, and if they're in the middle of serving a drink they cannot drop the bottle instantly, but on occasion the attitude is lackadaisical. I can hear the 'ping' so they should too.

jb747, did you politely speak to anyone on the flight about this, or just merely observe and quietly take note?

Do you suggest passengers just keep quiet, or alternatively say something (politely) to a cabin crew supervisor, write it on a comments form if the airline has one or contact the airline when one's flight has arrived at its destination?

Passengers being slack with seat belts is not restricted to airlines: I see it on long distance road coaches all the time, in multiple countries even where restraints are fitted, but as you imply it is a serious safety issue since I for one cannot predict clear air turbulence.

However you have informed us previously if I recall that these incidents are quite rare compared to the billions of annual passenger kilometres travelled on airlines within, into and out of Australia.

 

[MH_fan]

You know the expected turbulence is going to be bad when the the CSM or the pilots ask the crew to be seated. I've heard these announcements when flying MH.

 

[jb747]

I have observed this at times on QF and VA not to mention numerous international, non Australian domiciled carriers.

You won't have noticed on QF aircraft. Cabin crew have a brief period of time allowed for, but after about a minute everyone should be seated. I know it's an issue if you are in the toilet (and we will generally be informed of that), but there's not much can be done there. Might be a s***ty outcome.

Are they immune to the laws of physics?

Some people and airlines...obviously.

If a passenger said anything, it may be regarded as 'inappropriate' by some crew members even though it would be unpleasant for all concerned if a crew member was hurt.

Say something in writing to management later. Otherwise it's not worth the paper it's written on.