Aviation regulators press for global efforts to tackle turbulence

(Reuters) — Aviation officials from Asia are making a case for global action to reduce injuries from turbulence, with recent high-profile incidents driving calls to improve forecasting across borders at a Montreal gathering of regulators.

While turbulence does not frequently cause fatalities, it is the leading cause of accidents, according to data from the United Nations’ aviation agency, and severe weather patterns brought about by climate change could lead to more incidents, experts say.

It’s one of several issues being tackled by global regulators at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s air navigation conference, which runs through Sept 6.

Concerns about turbulence on planes have heightened since a Singapore Airlines flight from London in May encountered a severe incident leading to one death and dozens of injuries.

Countries including Japan, Korea and Singapore want turbulence added as a category in ICAO’s 2026 Global Aviation Safety Plan, which outlines industry priorities, according to event working papers. ICAO said a decision will be made by its 193 member states at its triennial assembly next year.

Turbulence accounted last year for around 40% of all accidents involving large aircraft in scheduled commercial operations, according to ICAO’s 2024 Annual Safety Report.