B738, en-route, west of Bar Montenegro, 2019

B738, en-route, west of Bar Montenegro, 2019

Summary

On 13 February 2019, a Boeing 737-800 en-route over the southern Adriatic Sea unexpectedly encountered severe clear air turbulence and two unsecured cabin crew and some unsecured passengers were thrown against the cabin structure and sustained minor injuries. The Investigation found that the Captain had conducted the crew pre-flight briefing prior to issue of the significant weather chart applicable to their flight by which time severe turbulence due to mountain waves at right angles to an established jetstream not shown on the earlier chart used for the briefing was expected at a particular point on their route.

Description

On 13 February 2019, a Boeing 737-800 (F-GZHM) being operated by Transavia on a scheduled international passenger flight from Lyon Saint-Exupéry to Tel Aviv was in the cruise at FL 370 in day VMC when it encountered severe turbulence which the flight crew were not expecting that included a rapid roll to the left which led the Captain to take control and recover manually to wings level. Two unsecured cabin crew and eight unsecured passengers sustained minor injuries which it was possible to respond sufficiently to for a diversion on that account to be unnecessary.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the French Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Agency, the BEA, based on downloaded FDR data and crew statements, relevant data on the CVR having been overwritten. It was noted that the Training Captain in command had accumulated around 15,000 hours flying experience of which 11,200 hours had been as Captain and 6,800 hours had been on type. The First Officer had over 3000 hours flying experience of which 900 hours were on type.

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