After severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight this week that killed one man and inured others, it’s no wonder that travelers are wary about how safe it is to be in a plane while it shakes. However, injuries from turbulence aren’t common—between 2009 and 2022, just 163 people were seriously injured by turbulence on a plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Turbulence occurs because of unstable air movement affected by changes in wind speed and direction, whether by jet streams, thunderstorms or cold or warm weather fronts. However, there doesn’t need to be stormy weather for it to occur, and sometimes it can’t be picked up on by eyes or weather radars. Recent research has found that the frequency of turbulence has increased because of elevated carbon dioxide emissions that affect air currents.
Airplanes are designed to withstand turbulence, even when severe, so while it can damage the aircraft, it’s rare. Passengers who stay seated and with their seatbelts fastened as much as possible during a flight are less likely to get injured. “If you’re not seat belted, by definition, you’ll become a projectile, you’re a catapult, you will lift up out of your seat,” said Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England.
