What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-16) The acft in question was at cruise altitude when it was struck by clear air turbulence (cat). There was no SIGMET for cat and nothing in the American airlines wx package to indicate that such a condition should be expected. The pilot reported the situation to dispatch and ATC iaw applicable FARS and company procedures. ATC routed other aircraft away from the area where the cat was encountered. There were no other instances reported by other aircraft. A total of six injuries, one serious (a broken ankle) experienced by a crew member and three minor injuries experienced by three other flight attendants and two minor injuries sustained by passengers.
As the FAA filed it
(-16) THE ACFT IN QUESTION WAS AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE (CAT). THERE WAS NO SIGMET FOR CAT AND NOTHING IN THE AMERICAN AIRLINES WX PACKAGE TO INDICATE THAT SUCH A CONDITION SHOULD BE EXPECTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SITUATION TO DISPATCH AND ATC IAW APPLICABLE FARS AND COMPANY PROCEDURES. ATC ROUTED OTHER AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THE AREA WHERE THE CAT WAS ENCOUNTERED. THERE WERE NO OTHER INSTANCES REPORTED BY OTHER AIRCRAFT. A TOTAL OF SIX INJURIES, ONE SERIOUS (A BROKEN ANKLE) EXPERIENCED BY A CREW MEMBER AND THREE MINOR INJURIES EXPERIENCED BY THREE OTHER FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND TWO MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED BY PASSENGERS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.