---
title: "Why aircraft move in turbulence — OnlyPlanes"
description: "The plane is shaking due to uneven air flows. Why turbulence occurs, whether its wing can withstand and why fasten the belt."
canonical_url: "https://onlyplanes.ru/en/guides/turbulence"
locale: en
meta:
  keywords: "Why aircraft move in turbulence"
  "og:description": "What happens to the air, wings and passengers when an aircraft encounters turbulence."
  "og:image": "https://onlyplanes.ru/images/aviation/aircraft/boeing-787.webp"
  "og:title": "Why aircraft move in turbulence"
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Flight explained

# Why aircraft move in turbulenceWhy aircraft move in turbulence

What happens to the air, wings and passengers when an aircraft encounters turbulence.

The short answer

Turbulence is the inhomogeneous movement of air. Ascending and descending streams, air mass boundaries, mountains and storm clouds change the speed and direction of the flow around the aircraft, so passengers feel swaying and short overloads.

## What causes turbulence and how it affects the aircraft

The wing of a passenger aircraft should not be absolutely rigid: it bends elastically and takes part of the load. The design is tested with a margin regarding the modes of normal operation, and the crew receives forecasts, on-board radar data and messages from other aircraft.

The main practical risk is associated with unfastened people and unattached objects. Therefore, it is better to keep the belt fastened all the time, even when the scoreboard is turned off.

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