Turbulence is the leading cause of in-flight injuries involving American air carriers, based on a recent review of data by analysts within the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards Service. Without detailing three cited incidents, the FAA has reminded the air carrier industry — via an Information For Operators (InFO) bulletin — of the need to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs). Turbulence encounters with injuries were described during 2010, however, in the agency’s Accident/Incident Data System and in last year’s final report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about a 2009 accident.
The NTSB report describes an encounter involving an Airbus A320-232 operated by JetBlue Airways (ASW, 7/10, “At the Verge of a Stall”). Two passengers — one not wearing a seat belt and the other in a lavatory — suffered serious injuries, and two passenge…
