Turbulence rattles 747 over Japan; at least 9 hurt
- Flight departed from San Francisco with 321 passengers and 21 crewmembers
- Plane encountered turbulence near Hokkaido around noon Hong Kong time on Tuesday
- Passenger said he felt like he was on a roller coaster
At least nine passengers and crewmembers were injured when a Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight from San Francisco hit severe turbulence over Japan, the airline said.
Flight CX879, a Boeing 747 with 321 passengers and 21 crew aboard, was rocked by the turbulence over the Japanese island of Hokkaido shortly after noon local time on Tuesday, Cathay airlines said.
The airline said nine people were injured. Two injured crewmembers and six of the injured passengers were sent to hospitals when the plane landed in Hong Kong.
The South China Morning Post, which put the injured total at 12, said one flight attendant was in serious condition.
"It was even more intense than sitting on a roller coaster," one passenger told the paper. The plane "was jolted for at least two minutes. I was thrown up very high."
He said there was no announcement warning people to fasten seat belts, adding that some passengers were thrown out of their seats and struck the overhead lockers.
The incident came one day after a United Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence that injured five people. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating United Flight 1676 from Denver to Billings, Mont. That incident happened shortly after noon Monday while the jet was at 34,000 feet in northern Wyoming.
Three flight attendants and two passengers were taken to the hospital after the jet landed in Billings. One flight attendant was admitted, the other injured were treated and released.