In-flight upset - 154 km west of Learmonth, WA, 7 October 2008,

4.6.4 Injuries to seated occupants not wearing seat beltsFor the 50 injured occupants who were seated but not wearing seat belts, most (42)were injured as a result of impacting parts of the aircraft during the first in-flightupset. At least 36 of these occupants hit overhead fittings, with some also beinginjured when landing on the floor or seats. Two of these passengers were also hit byother occupants. Of the remaining eight occupants, one reported being injured as aresult of reaching for an armrest, and the injury mechanism for the other seven wasnot reported.Most of these occupants received multiple injuries. The primary injury types werespinal injury (one), neck or back injury (21), head injury (15), arm injury (seven),and leg injury (five).Three of the seated passengers not wearing seat belts were admitted to hospital.These included an adult with a spinal injury, another adult with a neck/back injury,and an infant with minor head injuries who was admitted for observation.4.6.5 Injuries to occupants wearing seat beltsThe only crewmembers wearing seat belts were the two flight crew on the flightdeck, and neither was injured. Passengers wearing seat belts experienced thefollowing types of injuries:• Twelve passengers reported experiencing whiplash or being jolted during theupset. Eleven of these passengers reported strain/sprain injuries or pain to theneck or back, and another reported a shoulder strain. Two passengers reportedthat reaching for another passenger at the time of the upset contributed to theirinjuries.• Four passengers reported being hit by other passengers or objects. The primaryinjuries were shoulder/chest bruising (and cracked ribs), shoulder bruising,neck/back pain and leg bruising.• One passenger reported hitting the seat in front, resulting in neck/back pain.• Two passengers reported hitting the armrests of their seats, resulting in injuriesto their sides. One of these passengers was reaching for another passenger at thetime.• One passenger received a wrist injury when reaching for another passenger.• One child received abdominal contusions from a seat belt.• Four passengers reported neck/back injuries but the injury mechanism was notclear.Two of the passengers wearing seat belts received serious injuries. The child whoreceived abdominal contusions was admitted to hospital for observation. The otherpassenger experienced neck pain at the time of the upset, and was admitted tohospital 3 days after the occurrence after experiencing a stroke.4.6.6 Tightly- versus loosely-fastened seat beltsThe injury rate for the 18 passengers with loosely-fastened seat belts (46%) was notsignificantly different to the rate for the 50 passengers with tightly-fastened seatbelts (34%).- 179 -