Incident Overview
A flight crew checked weather for a planned journey from Durango, Mexico, to Chicago, Illinois. They received a briefing from an arriving pilot who warned of light to moderate turbulence. While descending from 26,000 feet to 20,000 feet, the airplane encountered clear air turbulence described as severe.
Sequence of Events
Upon encountering the turbulence, the flight crew and a flight attendant made an announcement instructing passengers to return to their seats. Shortly thereafter, the 'Fasten Seatbelt' sign was turned on. At the time of the turbulence encounter, two passengers were occupying the lavatory. They sustained serious injuries as a result.
Passenger Injuries
The two passengers in the lavatory were the only individuals reported as injured. No other occupants were mentioned as harmed in the incident.