Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Attendant Current
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Procedure
An overhead panel above rows four and five became dislodged from the ceiling upon landing impact. The panel went flying and came down hard on a passenger's head in Row 3C. The passenger is a frequent flier. I saw everything that happened so there is no misunderstanding as to what exactly took place. I immediately got up from my jump seat to help and to see how badly he was hurt. Evidently the panel did not come down on him with the flat side; but on the edge that has metal attachments. I phoned the Captain to tell him what had just taken place and told him I was about to treat the passenger's injured head. While we were taxiing toward the gate I prepared an ice pack and grabbed 'galley wipes' for his head. When I asked how he was feeling; he replied that the injury wasn't too bad; but that was only until he saw the blood from his wound on the galley wipe. I again called the Captain to tell him about the blood from the wound and what I was doing for the passenger. I also told him I thought we'd better call EMS to meet us at the gate and let them make a determination to the seriousness of the injury and further treatment. After evaluating and treating him; the paramedics said he was cleared to go on to his final destination. After all the passengers were off the plane I went up to the gate to check on the injured passenger. He said he was OK; but the top of his head was beginning to hurt. I know he was trying to minimize the accident because; as I observed; he indeed took quite a hard hit on the head. Before I left to go back on the aircraft; Customer Service and Operation managers were trying to book him into a first class seat on his next leg. Hopefully the passenger will have no repercussions from his injury and will not be too mad at us for what happened.When I got back on the aircraft; a Mechanic was reattaching and securing the panel in question with the right kind of screws. He then checked the security and the screws of all the other overhead panels. He said the reason the panel came down was that; after some WiFi wires had been installed in the overhead space; improper screws were used to re secure the panels. A Company Ground Operations Manager came on the aircraft to check with the Mechanic about the repair and to reassure us that the panel and other overhead panels were being properly looked after.
An overhead panel in the cabin of a CRJ-900 had been removed and replaced during installation of WiFi wiring. When it was replaced it was secured with the incorrect screws and; upon a subsequent landing; the panel fell out and struck a passenger in the head causing a painful and bloody; but not serious; injury.