Incident Overview
A scheduled international passenger flight experienced a severe turbulence event while cruising at 37,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico. The encounter occurred after the aircraft inadvertently penetrated rapidly developing convective formations. One flight attendant sustained serious injuries during the event.
Circumstances of the Turbulence Encounter
The flight crew was in the process of attempting to deviate around cloud formations when the severe turbulence began. Prior to the incident, the crew had illuminated the seat belt sign and the captain made an announcement reminding passengers to remain seated with their seat belts secured. It is unknown whether the injured flight attendant was seated or standing, nor is her specific location within the cabin at the time of the event known.
Aftermath and Diversion
Following the turbulence encounter, the flight crew decided to divert the aircraft to a nearby airport. The aircraft landed without further incident. No other injuries or damage were reported in the source material.