Aviation authorities from Asia are advocating for a coordinated global response to mitigate injuries caused by turbulence, spurred by recent notable incidents that have intensified the demand for enhanced forecasting capabilities across international borders. This discussion is set to take place at a gathering of regulators in Montreal beginning on August 26.

Although turbulence rarely results in fatalities, it remains the primary cause of aviation accidents, as reported by the United Nations’ aviation agency. Experts warn that the increasing severity of weather patterns due to climate change may result in a higher frequency of such incidents. This topic is among several being addressed by global regulators at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) air navigation conference, which will continue until September 6.

The urgency surrounding turbulence concerns has escalated following a severe incident involving a Singapore Airlines flight from London in May, which resulted in one fatality and numerous injuries.

Nations such as Japan, Korea, and Singapore are advocating for the inclusion of turbulence as a distinct category in the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 2026 Global Aviation Safety Plan, which delineates key industry priorities, as indicated in working papers from the event. ICAO has announced that its 193 member states will make a decision on this matter during the upcoming triennial assembly next year.

Japan, along with other nations, is urging ICAO to enhance the real-time coordination of weather and turbulence data sharing across international borders. This initiative aims to make alerts more user-friendly for pilots, as noted by an official from Japan's civil aviation bureau. Several Asian countries are already taking preliminary measures to transform this information, which is typically conveyed in text format, into a more visually accessible format.

According to ICAO’s 2024 Annual Safety Report, turbulence was responsible for approximately 40 percent of all accidents involving large aircraft in scheduled commercial operations last year.

While Japan does not currently mandate it, All Nippon Airways has voluntarily begun to show a safety video at the beginning and during flights to mitigate turbulence-related incidents.

In August, Korean Air announced it would discontinue the service of instant cup noodles, a popular Korean snack known as ramyeon that requires boiling water, on its long-haul flights, as part of its response to the rise in turbulence occurrences.