Incident Overview
A scheduled passenger flight en route from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Chicago, Illinois, encountered clear air turbulence (CAT) while cruising at Flight Level 330. The event occurred approximately 500 nautical miles east of Honolulu. The turbulence was unexpected and had not been forecast by meteorological services. The fasten seat belt sign was not illuminated at the time of the encounter.
Injuries and Aftermath
Two passengers sustained serious injuries as a result of the sudden turbulence. The flight crew was not warned of the condition, and the cabin crew had not instructed passengers to remain seated. Following the incident, the flight continued to its destination airport without further issues. No other injuries or damage were reported.
Context
Clear air turbulence is a known phenomenon that can occur without visual cues, often at high altitudes. In this case, the lack of forecast and the unexpected nature of the turbulence contributed to the injuries. The aircraft remained airborne and landed safely in Chicago.