Eight passengers and two crew members aboard Air Canada Flight 190 were injured Thursday morning when the Airbus 319 suffered a sudden loss of altitude and rolled sharply left and right. One passenger told Canadianpress.com “all of a sudden there were three big drops,” explaining that items (and people) that were not strapped down went flying. “It was over and done with in 10 or 15 seconds,” after which some crew were left “trying to dab blood out of their eyes,” and the flight out of Victoria, British Columbia, for Toronto, diverted to Calgary. By Thursday evening all the injured had been released from hospital. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board did not immediately characterize the event as one due to turbulence, mechanical problems, or the actions of the flight crew. Early media reports said passengers were told by the flight crew that the aircraft experienced mechanical problems or that its flight computer had malfunctioned. Other reports indicated that the crew had explained after the event that the aircraft’s “computer had been knocked out” and that they were now flying the aircraft manually. The aircraft’s flight path took it from Victoria east over the Kootenay Mountains. After the incident, the crew flew to Calgary. A low pressure system and front was in the area.
Injuries: Air Canada Reminds You To Buckle Up
Key Takeaways:
- Air Canada Flight 190, an Airbus 319, experienced a sudden loss of altitude and sharp rolls, injuring eight passengers and two crew members.
- The brief incident, lasting 10-15 seconds, caused unstrapped items and people to fly, leading the flight to divert from Victoria to Calgary.
- All 10 injured individuals were released from the hospital by Thursday evening.
- While the Transportation Safety Board had not confirmed the cause, early reports suggested mechanical problems or a flight computer malfunction forced the crew to fly manually, with a low-pressure system also present in the flight's area.
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