Incident Overview

Date: Monday 15 October 2018
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-7L9 (WL)
Owner/operator: Southwest Airlines
Registration Number: N7816B
Location: Albany, New York – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 143
Component Affected: Flight attendant’s seat belt sign and the aircraft’s seat belt system.Flight attendant’s seat belt sign and the aircraft’s seat belt system.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
On October 15, 2018, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7L9 experienced turbulence while descending through FL280. This turbulence resulted in a flight attendant receiving serious injuries. The remaining passengers and crew were not injured, and the airplane was not damaged.On October 15, 2018, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7L9 experienced turbulence while descending through FL280. This turbulence resulted in a flight attendant receiving serious injuries. The remaining passengers and crew were not injured, and the airplane was not damaged.

Description

On October 15, 2018, aboutÿ1310 eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 2437, a Boeing 737-7L9, N7816B, encountered turbulenceÿwhile descending through about FL280. As a result of the turbulence, one flight attendant received serious injuries.ÿ The remaining passengers and crew were not injured, and the airplane was notÿdamaged.ÿThe regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW), Chicago, Illinois, to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (KMHT), Manchester, New Hampshire. The flight crew stated that prior to encountering turbulence the seat belt sign had been illuminated, and the flight attendants had been asked to be seated since turbulence was anticipated. The flight crew stated that upon entering a ‘benign-looking’ cloud formation the airplane encountered continuous moderate to heavy turbulence for about 20 to 30 seconds. The flight attendants (FA) stated that soon after receiving the call to be seated, the flight encountered turbulence and the FA in the aft galley was thrown against the door and cabinets, and then onto the floor, injuring her right foot. After landing the FA was transported to a local hospital and diagnosed with a broken right foot. Probable Cause: an encounter with convective turbulence that resulted inÿa serious injury to a flight attendant.

Primary Cause

Convective turbulence encountered during descent.Convective turbulence encountered during descent.

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