Airlines

Qatar Airways Flight Encounters Severe Turbulence Over Somalia

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.

Airlines

Qatar Airways Adds Direct Toronto-Amritsar Flights with Stopover in Doha

Qatar Airways has made travel easier for passengers by announcing a new three-weekly non-stop service between Toronto, Canada, and Doha, Qatar, starting on December 11, 2024.

This new route provides seamless connectivity for travelers heading to Amritsar, offering a convenient alternative for the Punjabi diaspora in Toronto who wish to avoid the hassles of transiting through Delhi airport.

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In a joint press release, Anantdeep Singh Dhillon, FlyAmritsar Initiative North America Convener, and Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener, highlighted that this new route addresses the long-standing demand for better travel options to Punjab.

With this service, Amritsar will now have ten weekly flights to Canada via Doha, making the journey simpler and more comfortable for travelers who previously had to deal with long road trips, multiple layovers, and extended check-ins.

Flight Schedule and Connectivity

The qatar air line from Amritsar will depart at 4:10 a.m. (local time) and arrive in Doha at 6:05 a.m. (local time). After a layover of 3 hours and 45 minutes, passengers will board the qatar airways flight from Doha to Toronto at 9:50 a.m. (local time) on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, landing in Toronto the same day at 3:55 p.m. (local time).

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On the return journey, the qatar airlines will depart from Toronto at 8:00 p.m. (local time) and arrive in Doha at 4:30 p.m. (local time) the following day. From there, passengers will catch the connecting flight to Amritsar at 8:40 p.m. (local time), reaching their destination by 2:40 a.m. (local time). The total travel time qatar seatmap for the journey is approximately 20 hours and 10 minutes.

This new route is a significant relief for travelers who have often faced the challenges of long road journeys to Delhi, lengthy layovers, and multiple check-ins. By streamlining the travel process, qatar Airways ensures a smoother and faster journey, enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers traveling between Canada and Punjab.