Niko, 47, who lives in Bali, was left with a broken leg at the start of his journey to New Zealand after the plane was hit with ‘clear air turbulence’ while he was heading back to his seat
A plane passenger was forced to suffer with a broken leg for more than six hours after it “snapped in half” when the aircraft was hit with severe turbulence.
Niko and his girlfriend Sasha, who live in Bali, were just 30 minutes into their seven-hour flight to New Zealand when the freak accident took place. Niko, 47, was heading back to his seat after going to the toilet when the plane suddenly “dropped” on Tuesday. Passengers recieved an apology from the pilot of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner after the ordeal on-board the Air New Zealand flight.
The traveller, who is originally from Germany, was hoping to enjoy a month-long holiday with his partner before their plans were halted by the accident. Niko had to sit in agonising pain for the duration of the flight and was only given a common painkiller in that time.
His friend who was waiting to pick them up from the airport was shocked to find out that his pal had fractured his tibia and fibula. Niko’s friend told The New Zealand Herald: “His leg pretty much snapped in half. [ The ] crew asked some passengers to move from their seats so he was able to lie down for the remainder. There was a doctor on board the flight but only Panadol was available to be administered. “
Emergency services said they recieved reports about a turbulance-related injury and rushed to the airport at around 5.40am on Wednesday. Niko was treated at the international terminal in Auckland as paramedics were already waiting for him before the aircraft landed.
A spokesperson for the ambulance service, Hato Hone St John, said one person with moderate injuries was transported to Middlemore Hospital. Air New Zealand explained that the plane was hit with sudden “clear air turbulence”, which happens in cloudless regions that pilots struggle to see in.
Chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan confirmed Niko was the only person who was injured onboard the plane. He told News AU: “One passenger sustained an injury on NZ65 from Bali to Auckland on Tuesday. They were attended to by a doctor on board the aircraft. In the event of a medical incident on board an international service, our crew will contact Flightcare Global, our international medical support, who provide advice and recommendations based on the information they receive.
“Depending on the situation, crew may put a call out to see whether there is a doctor on board. If there is a doctor available who can support the passenger, our crew will take guidance from them in conjunction with Flightcare Global.” He further explained that a plane would only divert if it was operationally viable and if Flightcare Global were “sufficiently concerned” about the person’s immediate condition.
“They will also consider factors like the level of medical care likely available to the individual in the possible diversion locations and whether it is in the individual’s best interest to continue to the intended destination,” he added. “The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority. Our crew are trained to respond to medical emergencies and always prioritise the wellbeing of the customers on board the aircraft.”
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
