Woman and Child Hospitalised After Qantas Flight Encounters Turbulence

A woman and child have been hospitalised after a Qantas flight from Sydney encountered turbulence on approach to Brisbane on 13 November.

A woman and a child have been referred to hospital after sustaining injuries when a Qantas flight bound for Brisbane encountered in-flight turbulence on 13 November 2024.

Qantas flight QF528 was operating a scheduled route between Sydney and Brisbane. The flight encountered turbulence during the descent into Brisbane airport. According to reports, three passengers were not wearing seat belts, despite the seatbelt sign being illuminated.

Qantas QF528 Sydney-Brisbane

Flight track of Qantas flight QF528 from Sydney which encountered turbulence on approach to Brisbane.

A woman passenger in her 40s and a child were referred to Prince Charles Hospital following the flight’s arrival in Brisbane. According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, the three passengers not wearing seat belts were assessed by their paramedics on arrival.

A spokesman for the Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics were called to the airport at 3:15 PM local time to attend to reported injuries from turbulence on flight.

The spokesman went on to confirm that the two hospitalised passengers were treated for bruises and lacerations sustained during the turbulence encounter. The third passenger, who also sustained injuries, declined the referral to hospital, according to the report. The woman and child were both reported to be in stable condition.

A Qantas 737 on the taxiway in Brisbane. — Alec Wilson from Khon Kaen, Thailand, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Flight data shows that Qantas flight QF528 was operated by a Boeing 737-800 registered VH-VXC. The flight had departed from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) at 1449 local time on 13 November.

The flight had proceeded normally and operated the northerly route to Queensland at flight level FL370. Descent and arrival procedures into Brisbane International Airport (BNE) were similarly conducted normally.

The turbulence encounter was reported to have occurred during the latter phases of the descent into Brisbane. During this time the seatbelt sign had been illuminated for the approach and landing.