A routine flight from Doha to Mount Kilimanjaro turned harrowing for passengers aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR1499, as the aircraft encountered severe turbulence over Somalia due to adverse weather conditions.

The incident, which unfolded on Friday, left the aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 leased from Oman Air, with internal damages and passengers shaken.

An Airbus A330-200 (A4O-DA), which is presently leased from Oman Air, was used for the flight. The aircraft is still at Kilimanjaro International Airport, as per FlightAware, however the flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Dar es Salaam (DAR) did not continue after the incident.

A Qatar Airways flight from Doha encountered severe turbulence over Somalia due to adverse weather conditions. As a result, the aircraft sustained internal damage, and at least one passenger required medical attention and was transferred to a Nairobi hospital for treatment. pic.twitter.com/81afJnQXrd— DP 🇰🇪 (@DanChepta) May 6, 2024

Images of the inside show damaged ceiling panels and lights, which are usually the consequence of turbulence causing passengers and service objects to fall into the ceiling.

Surprisingly, the Kenyan airports authority says that this never took place. I haven’t seen that reported online, even though they clearly deny the claim that the plane touched down in Nairobi.

1/2: 🚨 Our attention has been drawn to circulating Social Media reports alleging that a Qatar Airways flight encountered severe turbulence and internal damage before landing at JKIA. We want to clarify that these reports are FALSE. pic.twitter.com/fF9Ruo9bPR— Kenya Airports Authority (@KenyaAirports) May 6, 2024

According to flight tracking, the aircraft carried on to Dar es Salaam before returning to Doha later that day. It doesn’t seem like anyone was too seriously hurt in this incident, even though the cabin sustained significant damage.

The incident should serve as yet another timely reminder for passengers to always wear their seatbelts when sitting, even if the seat belt signs were activated at the time owing to the predicted adverse conditions in the area.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s emerging second flag carrier, is poised for a significant expansion as it sets its sights on bolstering its fleet to commence operations by the summer of 2025.

Reports indicate that the airline is currently engaged in advanced discussions with aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus to finalize a substantial order of wide-body aircraft, marking a crucial step in its journey towards becoming a prominent player in the aviation industry.

CEO Tony Douglas revealed that Riyadh Air is on the verge of clinching a deal for additional narrow-body aircraft, with an announcement expected in the near future. This move underscores the airline’s strategic commitment to fortify its fleet capacity in preparation for an ambitious network expansion.

The imminent narrow-body order complements Riyadh Air’s recently completed acquisition of narrow-body jets, the details of which are set to be disclosed in the coming months. Riyadh Air’s expansion strategy aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at revitalizing the nation’s aviation sector and fostering increased international tourism.

With plans to connect the capital city with over 100 destinations by the end of the decade, Riyadh Air envisions rapid growth, targeting a fleet of more than 200 aircraft within the initial five years of operation.

Notably, Riyadh Air’s endeavors come under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, signaling strong government support for the airline’s ambitions. However, amidst the backdrop of robust demand for aircraft and supply chain challenges plaguing both Airbus and Boeing.

Douglas emphasized the imperative of timely jet deliveries to ensure Riyadh Air’s successful debut in the competitive aviation landscape. Both Airbus and Boeing find themselves grappling with production constraints amid burgeoning demand, underscoring the urgency for Riyadh Air to secure its fleet on schedule.

As the airline prepares to take flight, these negotiations epitomize Riyadh Air’s determination to surmount industry challenges and carve out a prominent presence in the global aviation arena.

Qantas, the renowned Australian airline, finds itself in the midst of a significant controversy, agreeing to pay a hefty $66 million fine in the aftermath of what has been dubbed the “ghost flights” scandal.

The scandal revolves around accusations that Qantas continued to sell seats on flights that had long been cancelled, leaving passengers in the lurch. Australia’s competition watchdog revealed that Qantas had confessed to misleading consumers by advertising seats on tens of thousands of flights, despite the fact that these flights had been cancelled.

This compensation scheme will see domestic customers receiving $225 and international customers receiving $450. Qantas emphasized that this compensation is in addition to any refunds or alternative flight arrangements that may have already been offered to impacted passengers.

Affected customers will be notified via email starting next month, outlining the process for lodging a claim. Further details can be found at www.qantasremediation.deloitte.com.au. Vanessa Hudson, Qantas’ chief executive, expressed regret over the airline’s failure to meet its own standards and acknowledged the disappointment experienced by customers.

As part of the agreement, Qantas has pledged not to engage in similar conduct in the future. Additionally, the airline has committed to promptly informing customers of cancelled flights, ensuring that notifications are issued within 48 hours of the decision to cancel. Furthermore, Qantas will cease selling tickets for such journeys within 24 hours of cancellation.

This commitment extends to Qantas subsidiary Jetstar as well. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Qantas will seek approval of the proposed penalty from the Federal Court. However, Qantas intends to initiate the remediation process before the court approval is obtained, signaling a proactive approach to addressing the fallout from the scandal.