Japan Air Turbulence Injures at Least 37

March 28, 2005
At least 37 people were injured - four seriously - when an EVA Airways flight from Taiwan was hit by turbulence Monday as it approached Tokyo's international airport, a police official said.

TOKYO (AP) -- At least 37 people were injured - four seriously - when an EVA Airways flight from Taiwan was hit by turbulence Monday as it approached Tokyo's international airport, a police official said.

The turbulence occurred about 18 minutes before Flight BR2196, carrying 251 passengers, landed safely at Tokyo's Narita airport, Kyodo News agency said.

Narita police official Toshio Yokota said the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of cuts and bruises. Police believe most of the passengers were unbuckling their seat belts at the time and thrown out of their seats.

Transport Ministry officials and Narita police official Toshio Yokota confirmed the incident.

Yokota said there was no damage to the aircraft, an Airbus A330-200.