Air Arabia A320 Sharjah -Karachi flight Clear Air Turbulence incident

[Vaqar Khan]

An Air Arabia Airbus A320-200, registration A6-ANT performing flight G9-545 from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) to Karachi (Pakistan), was descending towards Karachi when the aircraft encountered clear air turbulence. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Karachi's runway 25L.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 5 hours, then departed for the return flight G9-546 and reached Sharjah with a delay of 4 hours.

The airline reported the aircraft encountered clear air turbulence during the descent towards Karachi. Two flight attendants received minor injuries and were evaluated by a doctors as soon as the aircraft landed in Karachi. The aircraft was checked and returned to service.

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority reported a number of overhead lockers opened as result of the turbulence causing luggage to drop onto passengers causing injuries to six passengers. The passengers were treated at the airport, a minor girl needed to be taken to a hospital, an arm fracture was suspected.

A passenger reported seeing other passengers having been injured.

Another passenger reported that they encountered just one jolt, first the aircraft went up rapidly causing the passengers to be pressed into their seats, then the aircraft dropped causing loose item and people without fastened seat belt to lift off and hit the cabin ceiling.

Source: The Aviation Herald, 1st March 2017