DCA25LA341

NTSB accident investigation · Airbus A321 · Las Vegas, NV · September 30, 2025

Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
September 30, 2025, 16:17 local (23:17 UTC)
Place
Las Vegas, NV · Lat/Long for AALAN Intersection, per 6120
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor, 154 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N670NKAirbus A321
Defining event
Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter
Weather
Day
Status
Completed · report April 21, 2026
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Parties
Spirit Airlines, Manager Safety Investigations, FAA AVP-110
Case key
201780

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with turbulence during descent resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant who was standing at the time of the encounter.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Turbulence: clear air turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelAirbus A321-231: 3 casesAll aircraft: 78 casesProbable cause
Turbulence: clear air turbulenceEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Availability of related infoAirbus A321-231: 3 casesAll aircraft: 78 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

Spirit Airlines flight 2045 encountered turbulence during descent into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, Nevada, causing injury to two flight attendants (FAs). The encounter occurred while the FAs were preparing the cabin for landing. According to the flight crew, while flying the CHOWW4 arrival into LAS, they observed cumulous clouds along their flight path but did not observe any returns on the weather radar, nor on their electronic flight bag (EFB) weather application. In addition, there were no pilot reports (PIREPS) for the area. Due to the cumulous clouds in the distance, they decided it would be safer to seat the flight attendants and passengers early. At approximately 22,000 feet, the flight crew turned ON the fasten seat belt sign and the captain communicated to the lead FA they might encounter turbulence. The lead FA informed the flight crew that they had already conducted passenger briefings and were seated. While descending through 17,000 feet, the airplane penetrated a cloud and encountered approximately 3 seconds of turbulence. The flight crew reported the turbulence to air traffic control and requested to slow the airplane. At that time, the flight crew was informed that a FA in the aft cabin was injured. The flight crew coordinated with airport operations to have emergency medical personnel meet the flight at the gate. The flight continued to LAS and landed without further incident. According to the FAs, they had completed trash pickup and the injured FA elected to use the lavatory prior to initial descent. While in the aft lavatory, the FA heard an announcement from the flight crew but did not hear the announcement clearly. While standing in the lavatory, the airplane encountered turbulence and the FA fell on the floor, injured her leg, and was unable to stand. The injured FA was assisted to their jumpseat and evaluated by an onboard medical professional. The medical professional sat on the floor in the galley near the injured FA during landing. After arriving at the gate, the injured FA was transported to the hospital and was diagnosed with a fractured ankle bone. One additional FA fell during the event and was transported to the hospital; they were released with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported and there was no damage to the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N670NK
Reported as
Airbus A321 (231)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
7106
Built
2016
Airframe hours
29,930
Engines
International Aero Engines V2500-A5, turbo fanInternational Aero Engines V2500-A5, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Spirit Airlines LLC
Registered owner
Spirit Airlines LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · September 30, 2025
Departed
KDTW · Detroit, MI
Destination
KLAS · Las Vegas, NV
Flight plan
IFR

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
43
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 24, 2025
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
9,191 total · 4,544 in this make and model · 5,681 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
May 9, 2025
Seat
Right
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
9,081 total · 4,953 in this make and model · 1,750 as pilot in command · 138 in the last 90 days · 61 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Minor
Restraint
Lap only
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Serious
Restraint
5-point

Weather

Conditions
Day

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.8 MB in all.

Other investigations on N670NK · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.