What happened
On 4 May 2016, an Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243, registration A6-EYN, was operating a scheduled passenger service from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta. While cruising at 39,000 feet near the Bangka Islands, the aircraft encountered a period of severe turbulence lasting approximately 22 seconds.
At the time of the event, the flight crew was preparing for arrival, and the cabin manager had been called to the cockpit for a briefing. During the sudden atmospheric disturbance, the aircraft's vertical speed fluctuated significantly. The impact of the turbulence caused several interior components to fail, including the detachment of cabin ceiling panels, damage to passenger service units, and the deployment of oxygen mask containers.
The turbulence resulted in seven serious injuries and 17 minor injuries among the passengers and cabin crew. Following the event, the aircraft stabilized, and the crew continued the flight to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where the injured individuals were transported to local hospitals.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the KNKT focused on the meteorological conditions and the crew's awareness of the weather. Investigators examined flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) information to reconstruct the aircraft's movement and the crew's responses.
Technical analysis of the flight path and weather charts was performed to determine if the turbulence was predictable. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's internal damage and the effectiveness of the seatbelt policy in place during the flight. The investigators specifically looked into whether the flight crew had sufficient warning of the impending weather disturbance and evaluated the aircraft's automated systems during the encounter.