What happened
Shortly after takeoff, an 84-year-old male passenger rose from his seat and moved toward the aft lavatories. At this time, the aircraft was approximately 1000 feet above ground level and maintaining a steep climb attitude. The illuminated seat belt and no smoking signs remained active. As the passenger proceeded forward, he fell face-first toward the rear of the cabin, resulting in a hip fracture.
The investigation
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase of flight. No mechanical failures or external factors were cited as contributing to the fall. The primary factor was the passenger's movement despite active safety warnings.
Findings
- The seat belt and no smoking signs were illuminated, indicating that passengers should remain seated.
- The aircraft was in a steep climb at low altitude (1000 ft AGL).
- The passenger ignored the safety signals and moved through the cabin.
- The fall resulted in a hip fracture for the 84-year-old male.
Safety message
Passengers must remain seated with seat belts fastened whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated, particularly during critical phases of flight such as takeoff and initial climb. Movement through the cabin during these periods poses significant injury risks due to turbulence or aircraft attitude changes.