Continental Airlines Passenger Paralyzed By Turbulence
April 25, 2009 | Airline Flight, Airlines Companies, Aviation
A 47-year-old woman is in a Texas hospital today following a freak accident that left her paralyzed.
The “Houston Chronicle” reports the woman was in the bathroom on a redeye Continental Airlines flight from Houston to McAllen, Texas when the plane encountered a patch of strong air turbulence early Saturday morning.
The force of the turbulence reportedly rocketed the woman into the air, slamming her into the ceiling of the bathroom and snapping her neck.
The woman was rushed to McAllen Medical Center as soon as the Boeing 737 touched down in McAllen a little after 2 a.m. local time.
She underwent six hours of surgery.
A spokeswoman for the hospital tells the “Chronicle” the family has asked that details about her condition not be released.
While the Federal Aviation Administration lists turbulent air as the leading cause of in-flight injuries in the U.S., serious injuries of this kind are said to be extremely rare.
Two other passengers on Continental Flight 511 were also injured in the turbulence.
They were both treated and released.
The “Chronicle” reveals the plane’s departure from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport had been delayed for about three hours due to bad weather.
