A man was left suffering in excruciating pain for over six hours after he broke his leg just 30 minutes into a flight to New Zealand.
German-born Niko and his girlfriend Sasha were travelling on a seven-hour Air New Zealand flight from their home in Bali to Auckland on Tuesday when the plane hit severe turbulence.
Niko was walking back to his seat from the toilet, when he said the plane “dropped”.
“His leg pretty much snapped in half,” Niko’s friend told The New Zealand Herald,adding the 47-year-old suffered a fractured tibia and fibula.
The pilot of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner later left the cockpit to apologise to passengers.
But Niko, who had planned a nearly month-long trip to New Zealand, was left to wait in agony until the plan landed, with only Panadol to help dull the pain.
“There was a doctor on board the flight but only Panadol was available to be administered,” the friend said.
Some passengers were also asked to move from their seats so Niko could lie down for the remainder of the flight.
Paramedics were waiting at the international terminal in Auckland to treat Niko once the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson told the publication staff had attended the airport at about 5.40am on Wednesday after a passenger suffered a turbulence-related injury.
One person with moderate injuries was treated and transported to Middlemore Hospital, the spokesperson said.
Air New Zealand confirmed the incident occurred when the plane encountered sudden “clear air turbulence”, which occurs in cloudless regions that pilots are unable to see.
Chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan said no other passenger injuries have been reported.
“One passenger sustained an injury on NZ65 from Bali to Auckland on Tuesday. They were attended to by a doctor on-board the aircraft,” Captain Morgan said in a statement to news.com.au.
“In the event of a medical incident on-board an international service, our crew will contact Flightcare Global, our international medical support, who provide advice and recommendations based on the information they receive. Depending on the situation, crew may put a call out to see whether there is a doctor on-board.
“If there is a doctor available who can support the passenger, our crew will take guidance from them in conjunction with Flightcare Global.”
Captain Morgan added an aircraft would divert if it was operationally viable and if Flightcare Global were “sufficiently concerned” about the individual’s immediate welfare.
“They will also consider factors like the level of medical care likely available to the individual in the possible diversion locations and whether it is in the individual’s best interest to continue to the intended destination.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our number one priority. Our crew are trained to respond to medical emergencies and always prioritise the wellbeing of the customers on-board the aircraft.”
It comes just over a month after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner suddenly plunged en route from Sydney to Auckland, injuring 50 people.
A “major incident” on board LATAM flight LA800 had caused the plane to dip violently, with unrestrained passengers sent flying through the cabin and into the ceiling, with some left covered in blood.
The Chilean airline said an unspecified “technical problem” caused “strong movement” in the air.