Originally Posted by
Kacee
Let's hope this incident will lead to an incremental increase in passenger seatbelt use. I suspect most who are aware of the risks of severe turbulence already follow the guidance by keeping their seatbelts fastened at all times. Less frequent (or less aware) flyers often don't realize what will happen if there's a sudden altitude drop.
I was involved in a similar incident with cat about 12 years ago on a BA flight from Berlin to London where it was similarly messy. Pilot had to descend to 20k ft for the rest of the journey over the channel. Luckily I was strapped in. Since then I have been always cautious. Last year there was a BA incident over the Bay of Bengal where the PIC returned to SIN due to five cabin crew being severely injured. It just adds to the datapoints that sometimes these weather phenomena can come from nowhere so best to keep buckled up, regardless of seat belt sign.