What happened
The flight was conducting operations in an area characterized by light radar returns. At the time of the incident, the seatbelt sign was illuminated, and passengers had been explicitly instructed to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened. Despite these instructions, one passenger left her assigned seat and walked toward the lavatory.
During this movement, the aircraft encountered a significant downdraft. This atmospheric disturbance caused the aircraft to lose approximately 400 feet of altitude rapidly. The sudden change in vertical acceleration resulted in the passenger sustaining an injury to her right ankle.
Safety message
This event highlights the critical importance of remaining seated with seatbelts fastened whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated, as clear air turbulence can occur without warning and cause serious injury even in areas with no visible weather.