Flight Details
On 10 July 2019, an Emirates Airbus A380-861, registration A6-EEM, serial number 0134, was operating scheduled passenger flight UAE449 from Auckland Airport (NZAA), New Zealand, to Dubai International Airport (OMDB), the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft was powered by four Engine Alliance GP7270 engines. There were 407 persons on board, including four flight crew, 25 cabin crew, and 378 passengers. The flight departed from Auckland and had been airborne for approximately 13 hours when the event occurred.
Turbulence Encounter
At 2153:25 UTC, while cruising at Flight Level 400 over the Bay of Bengal in Indian airspace, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence associated with convective activity and isolated embedded cumulonimbus clouds. The airspeed increased and briefly exceeded the maximum operating speed. The autopilot and autothrust remained engaged throughout the encounter. The thrust adjustment commanded by the autothrust system and the automatic speed brakes deployment were insufficient to fully prevent the transient speed exceedance. The turbulence lasted approximately four minutes.
Injuries and Damage
Twenty-seven people sustained injuries: thirteen passengers and thirteen cabin crew members suffered minor injuries, and one passenger was assessed as having a serious injury after hospitalization. Several cabin ceiling panels were damaged. The flight continued to its destination and landed without further incident.
Crew Actions
About five minutes before the turbulence encounter, the flight crew turned the passengers' seat belt sign to ON. However, the on-duty cabin crew were not aware that the seat belt sign was ON, and no announcement was made for passengers to return to their seats and fasten seat belts. At the time of the turbulence, fifteen cabin crew were on duty performing passenger services, while nine cabin crew and two flight crew were on scheduled controlled rest.