18 are injured on 747 flight to Tokyo

Published 11:41 am Saturday, February 20, 2010

TOKYO — Eighteen people have been injured by turbulence aboard a United Airlines plane flying from Washington, D.C., to Japan.

Tetsuya Shinozuka, a police official at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, said many of the injuries were bruises, but at least one person may have broken a leg. He gave no further details.

United Airlines spokesman Mike Trevino in Chicago said about halfway into the 13-hour flight, the pilot advised passengers to put on their seat belts. A short time later, the plane “experienced moderate turbulence.”

He declined to discuss any injuries but said United is cooperating with health officials.

The Boeing 747-400 with 263 people on board landed on schedule today in Tokyo.