# NTSB DCA25LA341: Airbus A321, N670NK, Las Vegas, NV, September 30, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 30, 2025, 16:17 local (23:17 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV · Lat/Long for AALAN Intersection, per 6120 - Coordinates: 36.588719, -113.91835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5887&lon=-113.9184&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 154 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 201780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA25LA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201780/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201780 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA341 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Availability of related info; cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A321-231, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3940032), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N670NK), registered now, S/N 7106, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A321 (231) - Registry model: [Airbus A321-231](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a321-231) (registry code 3940032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2533-A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2533-a5) (registry code 34611, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7106 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 29930 - Engines: International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-A5 turbo fan; International Aero Engines (IAE) 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; 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 - Co-pilot; age 40; injuries: none; 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 - Cabin crew; injuries: minor; restraint: lap only - Cabin crew; injuries: serious; restraint: 5-point ## Weather - Conditions: Day ## Other investigations on N670NK (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB DCA18CA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA18CA055), Dec 6, 2017: Airbus A321 231 (N670NK), Fort Lauderdale, FL, no damage. Probable cause: an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant injury. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201780. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19585301&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DCA25LA341_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19631214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements%20DCA25LA341_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight attendant statements (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19644032&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Attendant%20Statements%20DCA25LA341_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19640509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Predeparture%20Company%20Weather%20Packet%20DCA25LA341-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.