Turbulence injures 40 on Manila-bound flight

Some 40 passengers were injured when turbulence hit an international flight bound for Manila, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Sunday.

The CAAP said the pilot of Qatar Airlines flight QR932 on Saturday requested priority landing from Manila tower due to some passengers sustaining minor injuries because of the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

The aircraft, which took off from Doha, landed safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with medics providing medical assistance to the injured passengers, including three children, who sustained minor injuries such as abrasions.

Upon investigation, the CAAP said it was determined that the incident was triggered by clear air turbulence.

Clear air turbulence is not associated with clouds and, therefore, cannot be detected visually or by conventional weather radar. It can strike even in the absence of clouds and pilots have no time to warn passengers and crew to get strapped to their seats.