What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While enroute cruising at flight level 270 in the vicinty of thunderstorms, the aircraft encountered turbulence. The captain had previously illuminated the fasten seat belt sign, and had the flight attendant to take their seats and remain seated until further advised. Fifteen minutes into the turbulence encounter, a passenger who did not have her seat belt fastened, sustained serious injury when she struck the ceiling of the airplane, then the armrest of her seat and then the floor. Medical emergency was declared and the aircraft diverted to the nearest airport where the passenger was transported to the hospital. Passenger was hospitalized for more than 48 hours. No other injuries were reported.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE ENROUTE CRUISING AT FLIGHT LEVEL 270 IN THE VICINTY OF THUNDERSTORMS, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE CAPTAIN HAD PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN, AND HAD THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AND REMAIN SEATED UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED. FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER, A PASSENGER WHO DID NOT HAVE HER SEAT BELT FASTENED, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY WHEN SHE STRUCK THE CEILING OF THE AIRPLANE, THEN THE ARMREST OF HER SEAT AND THEN THE FLOOR. MEDICAL EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE AIRCRAFT DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WHERE THE PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS. NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.