A member of easyJet cabin crew suffered a broken ankle on a flight from Gatwick and another was taken to hospital with severe bruising after the aircraft hit turbulence as it was coming in to land.
An air accident report revealed the Airbus A320 ran into two spells of turbulence, in a clear sky, as it descended towards Milan’s Malpensa airport on January 30 this year.
None of the 137 passengers was injured, according to the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
The report said the pilots had been warned of only low levels of turbulence during the flight, although there had been a report of more severe turbulence over the Alps at FL 220 (22,000 feet).
During the descent, air traffic control had told the flight crew that light to moderate turbulence had been reported on their intended flight path and the captain had instructed the cabin crew to secure the cabin.
A few minutes later, passing FL220, the aircraft had two ‘brief but severe clear-air turbulence encounters in quick succession’, said the report.
Two members of the cabin crew were injured, causing the flight crew to ask for medical staff to meet the aircraft on its arrival.
At the hospital, one crew member was diagnosed with a broken ankle, the other with severe bruising.
