The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has just released their preliminary report summarizing a frightful flight into Newark, New Jersey’s Liberty International Airport (EWR) last month. A Boeing 777-200, operated by United Airlines as Flight 1890 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Newark, encountered severe turbulence on its way to the New Jersey airport on February 10. The aircraft was able to land safely at EWR, but there were several injuries.
According to the NTSB report, at the time of the incident, the First Officer (FO) was the pilot flying the jet while the Captain was the pilot monitoring. After an uneventful departure from Los Angeles, the jet cruised across the country at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
“The FO stated that he was responsible for briefing the approach/arrival into EWR and in preparation for the brief, checked for potential turbulence using the Weather Services International (WSI) application (APP) and used the Skypath APP to see if there were any reports of turbulence,” the NTSB summary reported. “Neither application revealed any significant indications of turbulence along their route. After the brief, the Captain turned the onboard weather radar on for the eventual descent into EWR.”
The First Officer stated that while descending down to about 27,000 feet, the Captain announced over the aircraft passenger address system for flight attendants to prepare the cabin for landing. Following that announcement, the Captain turned the seatbelt sign on.
The First Officer observed an overcast layer of clouds ahead and below that the flight would penetrate on their descent into Newark Airport. The aircraft radar showed no indication of potential turbulence and Air Traffic Control (ATV) and United’s dispatch didn’t advise of any reports of turbulence from other pilots in the area.
The pilots said as they were descending through 21,000 feet, the flight encountered “moderate turbulence lasting a few seconds that caused unsecured items on the flightdeck to be thrown about.” After that turbulence event, the captain called the flight attendants and learned there were multiple injuries with one flight attendant sustaining a head laceration.
The Captain declared a Medical Emergency and requested to authorities in Newark that paramedics meet the aircraft at the gate.
The NTSB report says that post-flight, two flight attendants were diagnosed with fracture injuries and a third was diagnosed with a sub-cranial bleed. An initial report of the mishap showed that 13 passengers also suffered injuries from the event.
“Post-accident examination of the weather in the area revealed a frontal boundary moving eastward across New York state.
the NTSB summary stated. “In addition, an upper-level jet stream maximum was located above the accident site. Satellite and weather radar imagery, along with lightning and surface data depicted strong cells in the vicinity of the flight. The U.S National Weather Service (NWS) had issued current Significant Meteorological (SIGMET) warning for embedded thunderstorms with tops reaching 28,000 feet over the region.”
Known as a SIGMET, short for Significant Meteorological Information, the severe weather advisory issued by the AWC contains weather-related information concerning the safety of all aircraft passing through a specific zone. Sometimes AIRMETs are issued too; an AIRMET consists of turbulence, visibility, and icing-related warnings that are less severe than those in a SIGMET.
It isn’t clear why the pilots, ATC, or dispatch were unaware of the severe weather in the region or the presence of an issued SIGMET.
NTSB says their investigation of this incident continues.
