BUCKLED

Airline Passenger Breaks Ankle After Missing Seatbelt Sign

Two people suffered broken ankles while another lost consciousness.

An airline passenger broke his ankle after falling asleep, missing the seatbelt sign coming on, and then going to the bathroom. The 11-year-old British Airways Airbus A380 G-XLEI was traveling from Los Angeles International to London Heathrow in December 2024 when it encountered a pocket of turbulence south of Greenland. The findings from the incident come following an investigation from the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which said a member of cabin crew also suffered a broken ankle as she tried to buckle into her jump seat. “That passenger reported that he left his seat to use the lavatory,” the AAIB report said. “He described the aircraft as ‘undergoing light chop’ but, having been asleep prior to that, had not noticed the seat belt signs being on, and had not heard any announcements. While returning to his seat, he described the aircraft making a sudden movement upward and sideways, and believed that the movement of the floor with respect to his foot broke his ankle.” It adds, “Shortly after the turbulence injuries, a different passenger became unwell and lost consciousness.” The jet, carrying 277 passengers, proceeded to London, where it was met by medical teams.

,