Injury or assault Americas Barbados · 24 December 2023
Passenger Injuries During P&O Arvia Charter Flight: Turbulence Incident on 24 December 2023
238
What happened
On 24 December 2023, passengers from P&O's cruise ship Arvia encountered severe turbulence aboard a charter flight operated by Maleth Aero while returning home from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom. The unexpected turbulence injured 11 passengers and forced an unplanned diversion to Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport, extending the journey by several days over the Christmas period.
The flight, chartered by P&O UK to transport 238 passengers (225 cruisers and 13 crew) from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Manchester, England, resulted in passengers being accommodated in Bermuda hotels while awaiting a replacement aircraft. The return journey to the UK resumed in the early hours of 27 December 2023.
Details of the incident
Intense turbulence during the flight caused injuries to 11 passengers among the 238 onboard. All injured were cruise passengers; no crew members were affected. The unexpected weather event necessitated an immediate diversion to Bermuda, where passengers remained stranded over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day pending aircraft replacement and weather clearance for the onward journey.
Passengers and crew
Passengers
- 225 cruise passengers aboard the charter flight.
Crew
- 13 crew members aboard the charter flight (none injured).
Casualties
Fatalities
- None reported.
Injuries
- 11 passengers sustained injuries during the turbulence event.
Rescued
- All 238 passengers and crew safely diverted to Bermuda; all subsequently returned to the United Kingdom.
Emergency response
The aircraft diverted to Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport following the turbulence event. P&O UK arranged accommodation in local Bermuda hotels for all passengers while a replacement aircraft was sourced. Passengers remained in Bermuda through Christmas and Boxing Day before resuming their journey to Manchester in the early hours of 27 December 2023.
Current status
All passengers and crew have returned to the United Kingdom. The incident concluded with the successful completion of the return journey on 27 December 2023.