What happened
On 2 January 2006, an Airbus A3/330-201, registration EI-DAA, was operating a scheduled flight from Dublin to New York. While cruising at FL 380 over the mid-Atlantic, near 35° West Longitude, the aircraft encountered sudden and severe Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). The intensity of the jolts was sufficient to cause the autopilot to disengage, forcing the captain to take manual control and reduce thrust to the recommended turbulence penetration speed of Mach 0.78.
At the time of the encounter, the seat belt sign was not illuminated, and cabin crew were actively performing duties. The turbulence lasted approximately one minute, characterized by heavy shuddering and significant vertical movement. The impact was most violent in the rear of the aircraft, where several service carts toppled over, scattering their contents across the floor. While the passengers remained uninjured, the turbulence caused 6 crew members to sustain injuries, including back strains and bruises caused by being thrown against galley equipment or struck by falling carts.