Flight History
On 8 July 2004, at approximately 17:12 UTC, a Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DAR, operated by Ryanair as a non-scheduled flight from Girona Airport (GRO) to Paris Beauvois (BVA), took off from runway 02. The aircraft carried 2 pilots, 4 flight attendants, and 158 passengers. The autothrottle was engaged, and at about 4,000 ft, the autopilot was also engaged.
The weather radar was active, and the flight crew observed clouds. They initially headed for Bagur VOR as part of the standard departure, deviating north for weather avoidance. At 17:14:34, air traffic control cleared them to climb to flight level (FL) 180. The captain decided to manage the flight on heading to avoid weather. After ATC instructed them to fly direct to KANIG at 17:16:20, the captain chose to maintain a heading of 60° on "blue sky," intending to turn left toward KANIG when clear of a cloud.
While climbing toward FL180, the aircraft flew over a towering cumulus cloud that expanded rapidly. At approximately FL170 and 230 knots, around 17:18, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence lasting about 10 seconds.
Injuries
Two flight attendants were injured. One cabin attendant (No. 3) was thrown against the ceiling and cabin door, sustaining two fractures in the ankle and other injuries requiring stitches. The other flight attendant suffered contusions and bruises but was not hospitalized. No passengers reported injuries.
Meteorological Conditions
The Girona Airport meteorological office provided pre-flight weather information. METAR at 17:00 UTC indicated 3 to 4 octas of towering cumulus, wind 050/9 knots gusting 20 knots, visibility over 10 km, temperature 24°C, dew point 13°C, QNH 1016. Forecast wind-temperature tables at FL180 showed SW/60 knots, –15°C. Wind probing at Nimes showed backing and increasing winds from NW 20 knots at FL050 to SW 52 knots at FL150 and SW 60 knots at FL180. Lightning activity was recorded in the area during the two hours prior to the incident. Analysis indicated moderate to strong turbulence from FL100 to FL300 due to wind shear.
Flight Recorder Data
Digital flight data recorder analysis showed the strongest turbulence at coordinates 42.098° N / 3.125° E, altitude approximately 17,000 ft. Maximum vertical acceleration was +2.096 g, minimum –0.255 g. Airspeed varied between 220 and 250 knots. Horizontal and lateral accelerations also fluctuated. The autopilot and autothrottle remained engaged throughout. The aircraft continued climbing with no significant altitude change.
Response
At 17:19:28, contact was transferred to Marseille ATC with no report of problems. After reaching FL280, the crew was informed of the serious injury to the flight attendant. The captain decided to return to Girona, requesting medical assistance on ground. The aircraft landed at Girona at 17:52 UTC. The injured flight attendant was taken to hospital; the other was treated but not hospitalized. The aircraft later departed for BVA at 19:41 UTC without several passengers who chose not to continue.