What happened
On 2 February 2020, an Emirates Airbus A380-861, registration A6-EON, was operating a scheduled long-haul service from Los Angeles to Dubai. While cruising at flight level 330 over the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, the aircraft encountered moderate to severe turbulence.
At the time of the encounter, the flight crew had previously deactivated the seatbelt sign because there were no significant weather warnings or reports of turbulence in the area. Upon hitting the turbulence, the pilot immediately reactivated the seatbelt sign and instructed the cabin crew to take their seats. The turbulence lasted approximately two minutes, during which the aircraft experienced vertical g-load fluctuations between 0.44 G and 1.63 G. While the aircraft remained controllable and within operational limits, the sudden movement caused one passenger to suffer a serious injury.
The investigation
The UAE Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) examined the flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and cabin safety configurations. The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the turbulence and the physical environment of the aircraft cabin. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the plane was airworthy, and assessed the flight crew's performance, finding they followed standard procedures and reacted promptly to the weather change.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the acceleration forces caused by clear air turbulence, which physically displaced an unsecured passenger.
- The passenger was located in a lavatory at the time of the event and was forcefully thrown against the cabin furnishings.
- A significant contributing factor was the lack of standardized or easily accessible handholds within the lavatories to secure passengers during unexpected movement.
- There were no instructional placards in the lavatories advising passengers on how to use available handholds during turbulence.
Safety action
To prevent similar injuries, the AAIS issued a safety recommendation to Emirates to standardize the design and accessibility of lavatory handholds. The operator is also advised to implement clear, placarded instructions within the lavatories to assist passengers in securing themselves during periods of unanticipated turbulence.