Airport drama!: Man injured in turbulence - airline refuses to take responsibility

[webfact]

 

77kaoded Thai Caption: Airline refuses to accept responsibility after man injured by turbulence

 

77kaoded reported that a passenger on a Nakhon Sri Thammarat to Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) flight reported to the airport police after he was injured in repeated turbulence.

 

Waritphat Bunma, 45, said that he was in agony after the flight last night scheduled to leave the south at 7.20 pm and arrive in the Thai capital at 9pm.

 

In the stormy weather there was repeated turbulence and in addition the bumpy landing had caused futher pain.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

He said he was in tears with the pain that went from his lower back to his coccyx.

 

He said he had complained to airline satff who asked him if he needed an ambulance. But they said he'd have to pay.

 

He was put in an airline van and wheelchaired into the terminal where he went to the police. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The police took the report and called rescue services to take him to Sikharin Hospital in Bang Na where he could use universal Thai health insurance.

 

The police said that they would wait to get the medical report before proceeding in the matter. 

 

Not surprising in litigious Thailand, the airline was not named. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-05-19

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[ThailandRyan]

Is it possible that he is looking for a quick payday, a free flight, or was he truly injured and if so how many other passengers can corroborate the story.  His medical treatment should be covered under the 30 baht scheme me thinks....

[JoePai]

Airline industry do their best to fly around any major turbulence but nature will always win

Cannot see how his had main in his lower back if he was sitting down with his seat belt fastened

[TropicalGuy]

No Case unless Airline Negligent.

Broken Seat / Seat Belt for example. 

[nikmar]

27 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Airline industry do their best to fly around any major turbulence but nature will always win

Cannot see how his had main in his lower back if he was sitting down with his seat belt fastened

first thing I thought.. i should imagine with bad turbulence he would indeed be injured without his seatbelt on. Ive been through bad turbulence before and never a problem, except my nerves!!

[spidermike007]

I have never heard of an airline being held responsible for turbulence caused by stormy weather. Maybe it was his first flight? Perhaps he is looking for a payday? Maybe he is a bit fragile? A scared of his shadow type? Man up. We can all deal with a little turbulence.

 

Decades ago, I was on a flight in India, on an old prop plane, and we went directly into a massive monsoon storm. Nearly everyone was barfing, and it got so bad people stopped even trying to use the barf bags. Luggage was flying out of the compartments, people were crying and screaming, and we all thought we were going down, and none of us were going to survive the flight. Worst flight of my life, and I have had some bad ones! Even the flight attendants said it was one of the worst they had experience, when I asked them, after we finally landed.

 

I never for a moment even considered blaming it on the airline. It was nature's wrath. Most adults know that. 

[Wuvu2]

Seems like a clever way to try to get somebody else to pay for his sciatica surgery.

 

He should at least meet them half way - spend the 150 baht on that travel insurance they always try sell you when booking a ticket ???? 

[AndyFoxy]

Wear your seatbelt mate.

[Hummin]

6 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Wear your seatbelt mate.

Pisses me off when sitting next to a man 100kg + taking off seat belt after take off, as the seatbelt belt is something bothering them. 
 

He could have been on toilet, and happened on the way to or from, but the stupidity of not wearing seat belt, can not be addressed enough times. 

[RichardColeman]

Sorry, but in my opinion this would fall under 'Act Of God' !

[bkk6060]

Yeah, what can they do about turbulence?   I am actually surprised more of these planes don't go down with the severe turbulence they experience.  A miracle really,  got to hand it to the aircraft industry. 

[Gillyflower]

On most airlines, when there is turbulence, the sign goes up immediately to 'please fasten seat belts'.  I would think that he didn't have his belt on and above all, didn't take any notice of the sign.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He was put in an airline van and wheelchaired into the terminal where he went to the police.

Went to the police before the hospital... yet was in agony?

I smell a rat.

 

[jonclark]

2 hours ago, nikmar said:

first thing I thought.. i should imagine with bad turbulence he would indeed be injured without his seatbelt on. Ive been through bad turbulence before and never a problem, except my nerves!!

Just be thankful he wasn't sat down in the toilet having a dump when the turbulence struck...then his problems would have definitely multiplied. 

[VocalNeal]

Seems to be a modern trend to hold others responsible for self.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Worst flight of my life, and I have had some bad ones!

I have 33 years in aviation, starting back in 1976 as an apprentice.

My worst flight was on an Omani private BAC 1-11 jet, just completed a month of extensive mods and a refit to the interior which was personalised.

The aircraft was going to do some flight tests as engines and other systems had been changed.

We couldn't use our own test pilot as it had an American crew and they were the only ones allowed to fly it.

After a day of searching for them, [they were on a local golf course] they turned up to to do the 3 hour test flight.

As it was late myself and another apprentice were told to stay late and to bring the aircraft into the hangar when it returned.

The flight pre-check was done, pilot did his usual walk around, asked us many questions regarding work done and then asked who would take charge of the aircraft on it's return.

We said we would be staying behind and wait for them.

He asked if we wanted to go up with them, absolutely was the answer.

So sitting back leather sofas and surrounded by gold trappings we felt great.

Until the 1st officer handed us the flight test sheet.

Towards the end of the list were Engine stalls, re-lights and then wind-mill starts...

Most interesting flight of my life...

 

[swm59nj]

Airlines are not responsible for turbulence.  

[ikke1959]

Why only one person?? Not using seatbelts maybe.???..  

[digger70]

I find this strange that he was the only one who complained of being hurt .

But saying that , shouldn't the airline be Insured for Accidents?

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, Gillyflower said:

On most airlines, when there is turbulence, the sign goes up immediately to 'please fasten seat belts'.  I would think that he didn't have his belt on and above all, didn't take any notice of the sign.

Generally turbulence waits until you've been served coffee and drinks.

[orchis]

an airline is not 'responsible' for turbulence.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Wuvu2 said:

spend the 150 baht on that travel insurance they always try sell you when booking a ticket

Travel insurance provides cover for turbulence-related medical treatment? 

[Liverpool Lou]

15 minutes ago, digger70 said:

I find this strange that he was the only one who complained of being hurt .

But saying that , shouldn't the airline be Insured for Accidents?

Turbulence isn't an "accident".

[Lucky Bones]

One of those "Tommy Troubles" that you hope sits nowhere near you.

 

[mvdf]

I remember flying BKK to CNX few years ago. I was on a window seat. During the take-off roll this obese guy sitting next to me (wedged between me and aisle seat) farted. The smell almost made me faint and he looked around obliviously, seemingly unaware of the nuclear reek he caused. I was literally imprisoned on that window seat and forced to inhale wafts of his evil-smelling flatus. To make matters worse, the seat belt sign was not switched off for ages and he was shooting silent killer mini farts until the aircraft reached cruising altitude.

 

Gave me spells of dizziness and headache even after landing. Panadol and coffee gave me some relief. No rescue services required. Pre-mask days so there was no escape from the vented gases.

 

 

 

[digger70]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Turbulence isn't an "accident".

Unforeseen accident in my book.

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Not surprising in litigious Thailand, the airline was not named. 

 

Only two airlines fly into BKK (Suvarnabhumi) from Nahkon Sri Thammaret - Thai Smile and Thai VietJet - take your pick!!

[Myran]

Drama queen. If you can't handle a bit of turbulence, you're obviously not fit to fly in the first place. Might as well sue the travel agency because you got sun-burned on your holiday.

[metisdead]

A post with an off topic video attempting to bring racism into the topic has been removed.  This topic is about turbulence, not racism. 

[Gandtee]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

Airline industry do their best to fly around any major turbulence but nature will always win

Cannot see how his had main in his lower back if he was sitting down with his seat belt fastened

Seat belt fastened? That's the question. I always fasten my seat belt when flying. Sometimes there is no warning before you hit turbulence. Much the same as in a car. You never know when you might be in a collision.