What happened
On November 23, 2015, at 1500 Atlantic Standard Time, American Airlines flight 825, an Airbus A319 registered N725UW, was operating a flight from LF Wade International Airport (BDA) in Hamilton, Bermuda, to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to the return flight, the captain had consulted with a dispatcher regarding turbulence experienced on the outbound leg; the dispatcher suggested a flight level of FL280 to avoid previous issues.
After departing BDA and climbing to FL280, the crew received approval for a minor course deviation to avoid showers. After returning to the original course and clearing all convective activity, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence lasting between 5 and 10 seconds. At the time of the encounter, the aircraft was flying on autopilot and the seatbelt sign was not illuminated.
The sudden turbulence caused flight attendants to be thrown to the floor, resulting in one serious injury (a broken ankle). Additionally, one minor injury was reported by a passenger. There was no damage found on the aircraft.