A flight attendant reportedly suffered a broken leg, and nine other people were injured after a flight from the Angolan capital Luanda to Lisbon, Portugal, was rocked by severe turbulence not long after takeoff.
Amongst the injured was a second member of cabin crew, along with eight passengers, some of whom were transported to the hospital after the aircraft arrived in Lisbon on Thursday night.
The flight was operated by Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly on behalf of TAAG Angola Airlines, which said stormy weather in the region was behind the severe turbulence. A flight on Friday was rescheduled to allow for forecast storms to pass.
TAAG flight DT652 departed Luanda Airport at around 2:18 pm on Thursday and flight attendants were in the midst of the first meal service when the turbulence struck.
Meal trays and anything else that wasn’t strapped down from flung into the air. Pictures shared on social media showed chaotic scenes with the cabin in disarray following the bumpy encounter.
Despite the apparent serious injuries sustained by a flight attendant and some passengers, the flight continued onto Lisbon, where it landed at 8:37 pm to be met by emergency medical responders.
