Sudden Clear-Air Turbulence Reportedly Leaves Flight Attendant with Head Injury

Sudden Clear-Air Turbulence Reportedly Leaves Flight Attendant with Head Injury https://ift.tt/dmRZAkp

Clear-air turbulence is a sudden, severe and unpredictable movement of air that can disturb aircraft mid-flight

A Republic Airways plane
Credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• A Republic Airways flight attendant was reportedly injured after sudden turbulence caused her to bump her head mid-flight
• The flight landed safely in Boston, where EMTs evaluated the flight attendant's condition, which remains unclear, according to a local outlet
• An airline spokesperson cited the reason for the incident as clear-air turbulence, a sudden, severe and unpredictable movement of air that can disturb aircraft mid-flight

A flight attendant was reportedly injured after a regional jet encountered sudden clear-air turbulence on a flight to Boston. 

Republic Airways flight 5603, operated by Delta Air Lines' regional carrier, departed the Dane County Regional Airport near Madison, Wis., on Sunday, June 21, shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time, according to FlightAware. The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ 175, landed at Boston Logan International Airport just before 7 p.m. local time after more than two hours in the sky. 

Boston Logan International Airport
Credit: Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty

However, upon landing, the plane was met with emergency medical services, Boston.com reported. EMTs responded to the scene after a flight attendant bumped her head during sudden turbulence, according to the outlet.

“Our flight attendant walked off with [EMTs] to be evaluated,” a Republic Airways spokesperson told the outlet. However, the flight attendant's current condition is unclear. 

There were no other injuries on the flight, and the plane landed without further complications, per Boston.com. 

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE the flight landed safely and the agency will investigate the incident.

PEOPLE has reached out to Republic Airways and the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Boston Logan, for comment.

The Republic Airways spokesperson cited the reason for the incident as clear-air turbulence — a sudden and severe movement of air in cloudless skies, reports Boston.com.

Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, told CBS News in 2024 that clear-air turbulence is a “typically very violent" phenomenon that usually occurs between 23,000 and 39,000 feet above sea level. 

What makes it more dangerous than typical forms of turbulence is that it can't be seen in advance, like weather-related turbulence. Shahidi said flights can normally divert or enter a holding pattern to avoid severe turbulence, but if it can't be seen in advance, there's no chance to prevent an encounter. 

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The turbulence is often a result of jet streams — layers of air masses flowing at varying speeds — that differ in temperature. The temperature difference leads to friction, which in turn causes a disturbance.

Experts say the best way to prepare for a clear-air turbulence encounter is to remain buckled in your seat while not moving about the cabin. If crew members light the fasten seatbelt sign, passengers should return to their seats as quickly as possible.