What happened
On November 16, 2024, an Airbus A320, registration N411AV, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Barranquilla to Bogotá. As the aircraft approached the AMVES waypoint during its descent into El Dorado International Airport (SKBO), the flight crew issued a "10,000 feet" announcement, prompting the cabin crew to begin securing the cabin.
While one flight attendant was returning to their seat near the aft galley, the aircraft encountered unexpected light-to-moderate turbulence. The sudden vertical and lateral forces caused the crew member to lose their balance and fall heavily onto their right foot. While the aircraft sustained no damage and no passengers were injured, the flight attendant sustained a fracture to the right fibula, which later required surgical intervention with a bone implant.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation analyzed Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and radar imagery to reconstruct the event. The data revealed that the aircraft passed near a significant convective cell (a towering cumulus cloud) west of Bogotá. FDR analysis showed significant fluctuations in pitch, roll, and vertical acceleration during the period of turbulence.
Investigators noted that while the aircraft's weather radar was active, the specific area of turbulence was not clearly identifiable or avoidable via radar prior to the encounter. The investigation also noted a delay in the official reporting of the event, as the operator's Safety Management System (SMS) only notified authorities after the medical diagnosis was confirmed several days later. This delay also resulted in the loss of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) recordings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was the delayed identification of significant cloud formations near the AMVES waypoint, which prevented the crew from performing timely weather avoidance maneuvers or preparing the cabin sufficiently.
- A human factor contributed to the event through a delay in reacting to the approaching weather cells.
- An operational factor involved insufficient monitoring of meteorological conditions during the descent and approach phases.
- The flight crew and aircraft both maintained valid certifications and airworthiness status.