Casualties unknown

Passenger Fractures Ankle During Turbulence on Climb to FL350 (G-BNLS)

Atlantic Ocean, AO, US

On April 2, 2002, a Boeing 747-400 (registration G-BNLS) was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane's encounter with turbulence, while climbing to an assigned altitude. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered G-BNLS
Aircraft registered G-BNLS. Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A passenger broke her right ankle after falling during moderate turbulence while the aircraft was climbing through FL 350. The crew returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The seat belt sign was illuminated.

Incident Overview

Approximately 20 minutes after departure, the aircraft encountered moderate turbulence while climbing through Flight Level 350. During this event, a passenger who was returning to her seat fell and sustained a fractured right ankle. The flight crew promptly decided to return to the airport, where the aircraft landed safely without any additional issues.

Operational Details

Turbulence was not forecast for the planned route of flight. Throughout the duration of the flight, the seat belt sign remained illuminated. Despite the unforecast conditions, the crew managed the situation effectively by returning to the departure airport.

Passenger Injury

The passenger's fall during the turbulence encounter resulted in a broken right ankle. No other injuries were reported. The aircraft landed without further incident, and medical personnel presumably attended to the passenger upon arrival.

All Boeing 747-400 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Apr 2002 Boeing 747-400 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO?

A passenger broke her right ankle after falling during moderate turbulence while the aircraft was climbing through FL 350. The crew returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The seat belt sign was illuminated.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Apr 2002 involved a Boeing 747-400, registration G-BNLS, at Atlantic Ocean, AO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The airplane's encounter with turbulence, while climbing to an assigned altitude.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020412X00506. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.