Severe turbulence injures seven on Qantas flight, two in hospital

Seven people were injured after the plane experienced sudden turbulence shortly after takeoff from Brisbane on Wednesday. Photo / Fidel Fernando, Unsplash

Two people have been hospitalised and five others injured after a QantasLink flight experienced major turbulence.

QF2376, from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, was forced to turn back a few minutes after takeoff on Wednesday, just before 2pm local time.

“The aircraft landed normally and was met by emergency services to assist with injured passengers,” said a Qantas spokesperson.

“One cabin crew and one passenger have been taken to hospital with injuries from the turbulence,” the spokesperson said.

“Five customers and crew were treated at the airport for minor injuries.”

The spokesperson says initial indications suggest the injured customers were not wearing seatbelts.

“Cabin crew helped attend to customers in the air and once the aircraft landed on the ground.”

Other passengers on the flight were put on another service later that evening.

The cabin crew member injured is understood to have neck injuries, while the male passenger hospitalised suffered cuts and bruising.