Flight Details
On October 15, 2017, at about 1022 universal coordinated time, a Boeing B-767-300ER (registration N342AX) operated by Omni Air International, LLC, was en route from Osan Air Base (OSN), Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea, to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (DFS), Honolulu, Hawaii. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Incident
While descending through approximately flight level 315 over the Pacific Ocean, about 117 miles from DFS, the airplane entered a thunderstorm cell and experienced severe turbulence lasting about 30 seconds. The flight crew reported no indication of precipitation or wind shear on the installed radar. The operator noted that recorded telemetry from four other aircraft in the area equipped with The Weather Company Turbulence Auto-PIREP System (TAPS) showed no evidence of turbulence at the time of the event.
Injuries
During the turbulence, an off-duty deadheading cabin crew member was in the aisle near the aft lavatory and was thrown to the floor, injuring her right ankle. After being notified, the flight crew contacted telemedical advisory services via voice satellite communications and received medical direction to stabilize the injured crew member. Emergency medical personnel met the airplane upon arrival, and the crew member was transported to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractures to the right lateral and medial malleolus. None of the other 11 crew members were injured.
Flight Data Observations
Analysis of digital flight data from the Aeromechanical Systems Airborne Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) indicated that the airplane experienced vertical accelerations up to 1.78 g and as low as 0.46 g, with a change in rate of descent ranging from +240 feet per minute to –4,080 feet per minute. The aircraft was not damaged.