On December 4, 2024, Emirates flight EK421 encountered severe turbulence en route from Perth to Dubai. Several passengers suffered injuries. The cabin of the Airbus A380, which has the registration A6-EEV, also suffered damage.

In their announcements, flight attendants always recommend that you remain strapped in at your seat even if the fasting seatbelt signal is switched off. In practice, however, you often hear the clicking of the locks that are opened when the pilot turns off the light signal. Unexpected turbulence can occur at any time and can be very dangerous for travelers who are not wearing a seatbelt.

At least 14 travelers on the Emirates flight in question did not take this information seriously, even though one of the pilots made an announcement that explicitly pointed out that potentially severe turbulence was imminent and that passengers should remain strapped in their seats.

Some passengers did not notice the warning or ignored it. The superjumbo actually encountered severe turbulence. Several passengers hit their heads against overhead bins and suffered injuries as a result. Due to the force of the impact, the cabin of the Emirates long-haul jet was also damaged.

Emirates Airline confirmed the incident to Australian media and said that the injured people on board were being cared for by medical personnel who were among the passengers on board and volunteered to provide assistance. Furthermore, additional support is said to have been provided via a state elite connection.