'We flew up and hit the ceiling': Dozens injured as Hong Kong flights hit by turbulence

Forty-three people aboard Thai Airways flight TG600 from Bangkok and six people on Hong Kong Airlines flight HK762 from Phuket suffered injuries shortly before both landed at Chek Lap Kok airport.

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Several passengers were treated on board. Photo: SCMP

Published: 5:35pm, 30 Aug 2013Updated: 5:55pm, 19 Jun 2018

Passengers yesterday told of the chaos on board two flights from Thailand on which dozens suffered injuries when they hit severe air turbulence.

Forty-three people aboard Thai Airways flight TG600 from Bangkok and six people on Hong Kong Airlines flight HK762 from Phuket suffered injuries shortly before both landed at Chek Lap Kok airport.

The plane suddenly dropped and bounced back and we just flew up and hit the ceiling

A crew member aboard the Thai Airways flight suffered a broken collarbone, the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) reported.

A passenger - one of 49 people injured on the two flights - is wheeled into Princess Margaret Hospital. Photo: SCMP

A Thai couple, who refused to disclose their names, said they had just got back to their seats from the bathroom on the Thai Airways jet, an Airbus A380. They were among several passengers who were not wearing seat belts when the incidents occurred.

"The plane suddenly dropped and bounced back and we just flew up and hit the ceiling," said the husband, who wore a patch on the right of his forehead.

"I felt dizzy and was surprised. I remained conscious, just not sure what had happened."

Pictures downloaded from Twitter show scenes inside the Thai Airways flight which encountered turbulence on landing in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP

His wife said a cart carrying bottles of drinking water was thrown into the air.