Hiding in plane sight: the invisible turbulence that can strike out of a clear blue sky
As the planet warms, airlines are grappling with what this means for air travel – and for the passengers who simply refuse to keep their seatbelts fastened It was a swelteringly hot afternoon in south-west Myanmar on 21 May 2024. Tropical thunderstorms, showers and highs of 36C were forecast for the area around the Irrawaddy Basin. High above, monsoonal heat and humidity were building into a vast…
As the planet warms, airlines face a growing concern: "invisible turbulence" that can strike unexpectedly, even from clear blue skies. This phenomenon, known as clear-air turbulence, is becoming more prevalent due to climate change. In May 2024, Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 experienced this type of turbulence during a flight from London to Singapore.
The incident, which lasted over 21 seconds, resulted in one death and 79 serious injuries, making it a global headline. The turbulence caused passengers to be thrown around the cabin, with some experiencing severe injuries. Moderate turbulence, like the SQ321 incident, is caused by strong updrafts and downdrafts in thunderstorms, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming.
Thunderstorms, which can release more energy than a nuclear weapon, create extreme conditions that can lead to severe turbulence. This issue is particularly challenging for pilots, as clear-air turbulence is invisible and often undetectable. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) records about a dozen serious turbulence-related injuries in the United States alone each year.
To address this growing threat, airlines and aviation professionals are working to improve safety protocols and develop better tools to predict and avoid clear-air turbulence.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
