how many people have died from turbulance on a plane?

Answer 1

On the airlines?

Since 1980 there have been 23 deaths attributed to turbulence related injuries.

See- "Fatal Turbulence Events Since 1980"
http://www.airsafe.com/events/turb.htm

(If you include general aviation, there will be more.)

- Each year, approximately 58 airline passengers in the United States are injured by turbulence while not wearing their seat belts.

- From 1981 through December 1997, there were 342 reports of turbulence affecting major air carriers. As a result, three passengers died, 80 suffered serious injuries and 769 received minor injuries.

Answer 2

You might contact the FAA regarding that particular question. It really depends on how far out you wish to cast the net. If you are referring to passengers on commercial air lines, then I can assure you that no one has died from turbulence on the flights I've been on. I've flown in right behind tornadoes, in a hurricane or two, and through some pretty wild thunderstorms. In that, I've been tossed around a good bit, but never injured.

I have seen people injured from turbulence. In each case the person was not wearing their seatbelt or was wearing it very loosely. They are there for a purpose. Keep that belt tight. Even a serious downdraft is no match for a tight seatbelt.

If you go back far enough, you will find incidents where airplanes were knocked out of the air due to wind shear and other turbulence issues. Each of these incidents was followed by improvements in regulations and procedures. There is still some degree of danger from it, but since it is better understood, more detectable, and more actively avoided, it is not the problem it used to be.

Answer 3

Actually quite a few people have died from turbulence, though statistics are not really availabvle as to the total number. By far the most are infants who mothers elect to hold on their lap. Turbulence can be unexpected and violent, with loads of 10-20Gs placed upon occupants on an aircraft with little to no warning. That means your 30pount baby could suddenly weight the equivalent og 600 pouns, and even the most loving mother could not possibly hold on to that kid. Many, many children ahve been injured and even killed by bouncing off overhead bins and seat backs.

The FAA allows children under 2 to be held on a parent's lap, but I would certainly recommend purchasing another seat and placing yuor child in an approved car seat (yes they work in planes too).

Just a morbid fact about this, pilots tend to refer to children who are riding in their parent's lap by a few different names. Most common are Lap Babies, Babes-in-Arms, or (and this is the morbid one) Meat Missiles.

Pretty please with sugar on top...buy that extra seat. Don't gamble on your kid's life by trying to save $200 on airfare.

Answer 4

Turbulence? Probably 0. But I imagine that there have been some heart attacks that might have resulted in death, that could have been brought about by a person's overhwelming fear/stress over turbulence...

Answer 5

Passengers who do not fasten their seatbelts do risk injury during turbulence.

Searching the NTSB accident database, I have only found two incidents in the last twenty years where American investigators have reported turbuence resulting in fatalities to passengers on large commercial airplanes.

The reports on these incidents are linked below.

Answer 6

I think there was a stewardess killed on a Japan Airlines flight (it might have a Korean Air flight) she was crushed by the beverage cart those things can weigh a few hundred pounds