Cabin Attendant Injured by Turbulence During Flight Departure

Casualties unknown • At about 21 nm east-southeast of Kagoshima Airport, at an altitude of about 17,000 ft, JP

A cabin attendant sustained a bone fracture after falling from her jump seat during a period of turbulence while operating a Japan Airlines flight.

What happened

On November 10, 2016, a Boeing 767-300, registered JA658J, was performing a scheduled departure from Kagoshima Airport to Tokyo International Airport. The flight, operated by Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., carried 118 passengers and 11 crew members.

During the initial climb, the flight crew anticipated potential instability due to cloud movement and wind changes, instructing cabin crew to keep the seat belt sign illuminated for 15 minutes. As the aircraft climbed through 10,000 feet, it encountered moderate turbulence while passing through clouds. While the aircraft's flight data recorder showed a period of relative stability, a secondary increase in vertical acceleration occurred at approximately 13:20 JST.

At this time, a cabin attendant, seated at a rear jump seat, observed an infant crawling away from their guardian into an adjacent empty seat. Attempting to intervene and call out to the guardian, the attendant unfastened her seat belt and attempted to stand. During this movement, a sudden increase in turbulence and a rightward tilt of the aircraft caused the attendant to lose her balance. She fell backward toward the floor, resulting in a bone fracture.

Probable cause

The cabin attendant sustained a bone fracture because she attempted to stand from her jump seat to address an infant moving in the cabin, losing her balance when the aircraft experienced a sudden increase in turbulence.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2016-11-10 Boeing 767-300 accident near At about 21 nm east-southeast of Kagoshima Airport, at an altitude of about 17,000 ft, JP?

A cabin attendant sustained a bone fracture after falling from her jump seat during a period of turbulence while operating a Japan Airlines flight.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-11-10 involved a Boeing 767-300, registration JA658J, operated by Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., at At about 21 nm east-southeast of Kagoshima Airport, at an altitude of about 17,000 ft, JP.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The cabin attendant sustained a bone fracture because she attempted to stand from her jump seat to address an infant moving in the cabin, losing her balance when the aircraft experienced a sudden increase in turbulence.

Investigation report by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB). Original record: https://jtsb.mlit.go.jp/eng-air_report/JA658J.pdf. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

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