On February 10, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 787-9 (N788UA) operating from Los Angeles to Newark encountered severe turbulence during its initial descent. According to the recently released NTSB report, the aircraft was at 21,000 feet at 15:42 local time when it experienced rapid vertical acceleration fluctuations between -0.55g and 1.82g. Just two hours prior, the flight crew had reported a “smooth ride” to dispatch, highlighting that the encounter occurred abruptly without typical preceding indicators.
At the time of the event, cabin crew members were conducting final emnity checks and securing galley equipment. The sudden drop caused several flight attendants to be lifted from their positions and strike the cabin ceiling. The report details serious injuries to three crew members, including a shattered femur and spinal compression fractures for one attendant, while another sustained facial trauma and intracranial bleeding. Several passengers and a lap infant also impacted the ceiling during the fluctuations.
Meteorological analysis confirmed that the accident site was located near a jet stream maximum with winds reaching 150 knots. While “Tango” (turbulence) and “Zulu” (icing) advisories were active for the area, the flight crew reported receiving no immediate warning before the severe encounter. Additionally, a review of ATC communications indicated that while 17 pilot reports (PIREPs) were received in the sector during that timeframe, only 8 were correctly processed and distributed. Following the event, the crew declared a medical emergency and landed the aircraft at Newark without further incident.
