Over 50 hurt as two flights hit turbulence

BANGKOK/HONGKONG: More than 50 passengers and crew were injured Friday when two flights hit turbulence before landing at Hong Kong’s airport on Friday morning.
Thai Airways said over 50 people were hurt when an Airbus A38-800 carrying 500 passengers, two pilots and 24 cabin crew from Bangkok encountered “unforeseen turbulence” as the superjumbo was descending to Hong Kong’s airport.
One stewardess suffered a broken collarbone, while the other injuries were minor such as bruises, a Thai Airways official who did not want to be named told AFP.
About 500 passengers were on board the plane at the time of the incident, which happened as it was preparing to land at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport shortly after midday.
The injured, 37 passengers and 15 crew members, were sent to hospital for treatment, with 22 already discharged, the official said.
The airline said passengers and cabin crew suffered injuries but the plane landed safely.
Thai Airways sales manager Kenny Kung said earlier that 39 were injured but the airline later revised the number to 20. Kung says the injured were sent to three hospitals in the southern Chinese city.
Local carrier Hong Kong Airlines said three passengers and three flight attendants were hurt when their flight from Phuket hit “sudden turbulence” as it neared the city’s airport. The airline said the plane landed safely and the six have left hospital.
The plane was carrying 110 passengers and seven crew.
Hong Kong has been experiencing unsettled weather as Tropical Storm Kong-rey passes nearby.