Incident Overview
On November 20, 2024, about 1846 eastern standard time, Mesa Airlines, Inc. flight 6149, an Embraer SA ERJ 170-200 LR (registration N85352) operating as United Express, encountered “moderate to severe” turbulence during descent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio. The flight was a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight originating from Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chantilly, Virginia.
Injuries and Damage
At the time, the seatbelt sign was on, and the two flight attendants were performing prelanding cabin safety duties. Both flight attendants were seriously injured. Upon landing, they were met and transported to a local hospital. None of the 75 passengers nor the two flight crew members were injured, and there was no damage to the airplane.
Meteorological Conditions
The aircraft was in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) on the ROLN2 arrival at 16,400 ft mean sea level (MSL) when it encountered a pocket of severe clear air turbulence. A Center Weather Advisory (CWA) had been issued at 1743 EST for a line of embedded severe thunderstorms with moderate to heavy precipitation over central Pennsylvania, well east of the flight’s route. This advisory was updated by Convective SIGMET 27E at 1755 EST. AIRMET Tango 4 series, updated at 1747 EST, forecast occasional moderate turbulence from the surface to FL180 and a high-altitude advisory for moderate turbulence from FL180 to FL420.
Air Traffic Control Communications
The event involved two FAA air traffic control facilities: Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZOB) and Cleveland Traffic Control (CLE), with three controllers (ZOB R-66, ZOB R-06, CLE-A). According to the accident flight crew, ATC had not provided any reports of turbulence during their descent. Preliminary data indicated that two other flights were informed by ATC of turbulence in the vicinity. The Mesa Airlines flight dispatcher stated that ATC had rerouted the flight when the accident occurred.
Sequentially, at 1830:21, the R-06 controller cleared UAL771 to climb, and that flight crew reported light turbulence, later upgrading to moderate. A Pilot Report (PIREP) was issued but was not entered into the Aeronautical Information System (ASIR) and not relayed to flight 6149. At 1830:37, the R-06 controller advised another flight (ENY4189) of UAL771's moderate turbulence report; ENY4189 confirmed light to moderate turbulence. This report was also not relayed to flight 6149.
At 1846:04, the R-06 controller informed flight EJA757 of moderate precipitation and potential light to occasional moderate turbulence. At 1846:15, the R-06 controller instructed flight 6149 to contact CLE Approach; the crew of flight 6149 reported they were starting to pick up moderate turbulence, and the R-06 controller acknowledged.
At 1846:52, the CLE-A controller contacted flight 6149. The crew responded they experienced “some pretty good turbulence.” The controller issued a descent for runway 24R. At 1848:48, the crew reported having “some pretty good turbulence” and an injured flight attendant. The controller asked if they were declaring an emergency; the crew replied “not yet.” At 1849:44, the controller asked if the turbulence was severe; the crew responded maybe one bump of severe. At 1850:30, the crew declared an emergency. The aircraft landed uneventfully and was met by emergency medical personnel.
Investigation
Parties to the investigation are Mesa Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). NTSB specialists have been assigned in the areas of air traffic control and meteorology. The investigation continues.