What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 26, 2024, privacy data omitted, a Boeing 737-900 max, privacy data omitted from seattle international airport, WA (sea), to Phoenix sky Harbor international airport, AZ (phx) encountered severe turbulence resulting in injuries to flight attendants. (Fas)
The flight encountered severe turbulence at FL330, southeast of las vegas. A significant meteorological information (SIGMET) for the area indicated light to moderate turbulence which was confirmed by pilot reports (pireps). Approximatley 15 minutes prior to entering this area, the flight crew notified the passengers and fas regarding upcoming turbulence. The fas were also told to prepare the cabin for arrival and take their jumpseats.
About 20 minutes after making these announcements, severe turbulence was encountered. The turbulence disconnected the autopilot, caused an altitude loss 300 feet and a 10 knot overspeed. All passengers and the forward fas were seated with seatbelts on. None of the three fas in the aft galley were strapped not their jumpseats and suffered injuries. The flight crew were notified of injuries to two fas and the non-working jumpseating fa.
An emergency was declared for priority handling into phx and the aircraft landed safely at approximately 1510 local time. Prior to deplaning passengers, emergency medical services (EMS) boarded, examined, and removed the injured fas.
Injuries to the fas were severe enough that two fas required surgery, hospital stays exceeding 48 hours followed by rehabilitation. The third injured fa was treated and released within 24 hours.
On February 19, 2025, an interview was conducted with the captain and first officer separately. Minor deviations from company procedures were identified but did not contribute to the turbulence encounter.
The crew followed air traffic control's recommendations for best ride at altitude. The flight deck crew used all available information to lessen the risk of turbulence.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 26, 2024, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A BOEING 737-900 MAX, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FROM SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WA (SEA), TO PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AZ (PHX) ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE RESULTING IN INJURIES TO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. (FAS)
THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE AT FL330, SOUTHEAST OF LAS VEGAS. A SIGNIFICANT METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION (SIGMET) FOR THE AREA INDICATED LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY PILOT REPORTS (PIREPS). APPROXIMATLEY 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO ENTERING THIS AREA, THE FLIGHT CREW NOTIFIED THE PASSENGERS AND FAS REGARDING UPCOMING TURBULENCE. THE FAS WERE ALSO TOLD TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR ARRIVAL AND TAKE THEIR JUMPSEATS.
ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER MAKING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE TURBULENCE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT, CAUSED AN ALTITUDE LOSS 300 FEET AND A 10 KNOT OVERSPEED. ALL PASSENGERS AND THE FORWARD FAS WERE SEATED WITH SEATBELTS ON. NONE OF THE THREE FAS IN THE AFT GALLEY WERE STRAPPED NOT THEIR JUMPSEATS AND SUFFERED INJURIES. THE FLIGHT CREW WERE NOTIFIED OF INJURIES TO TWO FAS AND THE NON-WORKING JUMPSEATING FA.
AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED FOR PRIORITY HANDLING INTO PHX AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 LOCAL TIME. PRIOR TO DEPLANING PASSENGERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) BOARDED, EXAMINED, AND REMOVED THE INJURED FAS.
INJURIES TO THE FAS WERE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT TWO FAS REQUIRED SURGERY, HOSPITAL STAYS EXCEEDING 48 HOURS FOLLOWED BY REHABILITATION. THE THIRD INJURED FA WAS TREATED AND RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2025, AN INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER SEPARATELY. MINOR DEVIATIONS FROM COMPANY PROCEDURES WERE IDENTIFIED BUT DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER.
THE CREW FOLLOWED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEST RIDE AT ALTITUDE. THE FLIGHT DECK CREW USED ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO LESSEN THE RISK OF TURBULENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.