20120303006009A

On 03/03/2012, air Wisconsin flight #3733 from cleveland hopkins airport (kcle) was on descent on the bojid one arrival into philadelphia international airport (kphl). While near the Harrisburg VOR, the flight encountered some moderate turbulence, so the flightcrew turned on the fasten seat belt sign. Soon after that, they encountered severe turbulence between 17,000 and 18,000 feet. The flight crew reported a sudden loss of 300 feet. The captain and first officer hit their heads on the cockpit ceiling. The flight attendant was then called on the intercom to check her condition. She had been standing in the galley putting away supplies after her beverage service when the turbulence was encountered. She was lifted off the floor, hit her head, then came down and struck the floor on her buttocks. She was still on the floor when the flightcrew called, and had to get assistance from a passenger to hand her the handset to talk to the flightcrew via the intercom. She stated she was in a lot of pain, but was able to return to her jumspseat for arrival. The flightcrew declared an emergency, and requested that medical assistance be waiting at the gate when they arrived. Upon arrival at the gate, the pilot in command came back and opened the passenger door for the flight attendant. Once the first row of passengers deplaned, the flight attendant moved to those seats, while the rest of the passengers disembarked. No passengers had been injured in the encounter. Once all the passengers were off the aircraft, paramedics placed the flight attendant on an immobilizing board with a neckbrace and took her to the hospital for examination. The flight attendant was taken to the university of Pennsylvania hospital, were she was discharged the next day (03/04/2012) with a diagnosis of a fractured L1 vertebrae.