B738, en-route, south southwest of Toulouse France, 2015

B738, en-route, south southwest of Toulouse France, 2015

Summary

On 25 February 2015, a Boeing 737-800 encountered severe clear air turbulence as it crossed the Pyrenees northbound at FL 380. Two of the four cabin crew sustained serious injuries and it was decided to divert to Bordeaux where the flight arrived 35 minutes later. The turbulence and its consequences were attributed to the flight’s lateral and vertical closeness to a correctly forecast opposite-direction jet stream core and specifically to allowing cabin service to commence despite being near the boundary associated with severe turbulence following a negative ATC response when asked whether other flights had reported severe turbulence.

Description

On 25 February 2015, a Boeing 737-800 (EI-DAC) being operated by Ryanair on a scheduled international passenger flight from Reus to Brussels South Charleroi as FR 2829 suddenly encountered severe turbulence in the cruise at FL380 in night VMC close to an area forecast to be at risk of this. The resulting flight path upset was brief but significant and the turbulence only ceased following an immediately commenced descent to FL360. Cabin service was in progress and it was subsequently learned that two of the four cabin crew had sustained serious injuries. A diversion to Bordeaux was commenced and on arrival there the two injured cabin crew were taken to hospital. 

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