Incident Overview
On June 20, 2024, at 15:47 UTC, a KLM Boeing 787-9 (registration PH-BHE, serial number 38765) encountered severe turbulence during the initial climb phase of a scheduled commercial passenger flight. The aircraft was operating as flight KL702 from Santiago de Chile International Airport (SCEL) to Ministro Pistarini International Airport (SAEZ) in Buenos Aires.
Location and Conditions
The incident occurred near the KOTNI waypoint, approximately 165 kilometers south of Mendoza, Argentina, at coordinates 34°17'20"S 69°02'22"W. The aircraft was climbing through 32,500 feet when it entered an area of severe turbulence. Meteorological conditions were reported as instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Aircraft and Flight Details
The Boeing 787-9, owned and operated by KLM, had 11 crew members and 257 passengers on board, for a total of 268 occupants. The flight had a duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes. The aircraft sustained no damage, and no injuries were reported among crew, passengers, or others.
Aftermath
Following the encounter with severe turbulence, the flight crew continued the flight and landed safely at the destination airport. The event was recorded as an incident by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST), which released preliminary data.
Investigation Note
This report is based on preliminary information collected by the JST and is subject to change as the investigation progresses. No probable cause has been stated in the source document.