Description

On 17 January 2021, a Boeing 777-300 (A6-EPN) being operated by Emirates on a scheduled international passenger flight from Dubai to Beirut as EK957 was in the descent to destination in day VMC when it encountered severe clear air turbulence which resulted in one serious and two minor injuries amongst the 50 passengers and minor injuries to four of the 12 cabin crew. The flight to destination was completed and on arrival the seriously injured passenger was hospitalised. A post flight inspection confirmed that the aircraft had not sustained any damage. 

Investigation

The event occurred within the Nicosia FIR and Cyprus was thereby identified as the ‘State of Occurrence’ and notification was therefore sent to the Cyprus Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Board (AAIIB) the same day. The subsequent Investigation was then conducted by the UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector, the corresponding agency of the State of the Operator and the State of Registry of the aircraft. Relevant data were obtained from both the FDR and the QAR but as the aircraft had continued to operate for more than two hours following the turbulence encounter, relevant data from the CVR had been overwritten. Assistance in the analysis of the FDR and QAR data was provided by Airbus.     
No information was recorded as to the flying experience of either the Captain, who was PF for the flight, or First Officer operating the aircraft during the accident involved.