Turbulence is a normal part of flying, hence the sick bags. But it can be dangerous.
In May 2024, a flight travelling from London to Singapore had to make an emergency landing after hitting severe turbulence over Myanmar. The incident left one man dead from a suspected heart attack and dozens hospitalised.
Days later, turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin sent eight people to hospital.
More recently, a Cathay Pacific flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong hit severe turbulence on 23 May 2026, injuring ten people – four passengers and six crew.
An apparent increase in reports like these raises questions about whether turbulence is increasing or intensifying.
