Overview
During cruise flight at an altitude of 22,000 feet, an airplane encountered unforecasted clear air turbulence. The turbulence caused a flight attendant who was standing to be thrown against a bulkhead and then to the floor, resulting in serious injuries. After the turbulence event, the aircraft continued to its intended destination and landed without further incident.
Incident Details
The encounter occurred while the aircraft was in cruise phase. The flight attendant was not seated at the time. The force of the turbulence threw her against the bulkhead, and she subsequently fell to the floor. The injuries sustained were classified as serious. No other injuries or damage to the aircraft were reported.
Weather Information
A review of the flight release provided to the pilots showed a warning for occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet, but that warning pertained to an area several hundred miles west of the aircraft's route. Additionally, no SIGMETs or AIRMETs were active for the Roanoke, Virginia, area at the time of the event.