A recent Air New Zealand flight from Wellington to Queenstown encountered severe turbulence on June 16, resulting in a harrowing incident where a passenger was scalded with hot coffee and a crew member was thrown to the ceiling of the aircraft.
The turbulence struck just 15 minutes into the flight, causing a disruption as the drink cart was being navigated down the aisle. “Suze,” the affected passenger, recounted the sudden jolt that sent one flight attendant airborne and caused coffee pot lids to dislodge, spilling scalding coffee on her abdomen and back.
“There’s nothing you can do. You’re strapped in, you want to stay strapped in, there could be more turbulence and then you’ve got to deal with the level of burns you’ve just received,” Suze expressed, describing the chaos that ensued. Fortunately, a paramedic seated nearby promptly assisted in providing initial medical aid.
Following the incident, both the passenger and the crew member were taken to Lake District Hospital in moderate condition, as reported by the NZ Herald. Suze has since urged Air New Zealand to reconsider serving hot beverages during short flights and to enhance the safety measures on their coffee pot lids.
In response, Air NZ’s Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer, Captain David Morgan, emphasized the airline’s commitment to customer and crew safety. “The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority,” Captain David Morgan stated. He reassured that the airline is reviewing its operating procedures to better manage turbulence and ensure passenger safety.
“We’re always reviewing our operating procedures in line with both regulation and international best practice to ensure the safety of our customers and crew is prioritised,” Captain David Morgan affirmed.
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of turbulence during flights and underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols onboard commercial aircraft.
