A United Airlines flight heading from Los Angeles to Newark met a sudden storm on February 10, 2024.  

The aircraft was descending when it entered a patch of unstable air that the onboard radar did not flag as dangerous.  

Three minutes earlier, another plane had reported moderate turbulence to the air traffic controller, but that warning never reached the United flight.  

The controller said they did not hear the report, and the NTSB found that the required procedure for sharing weather alerts was ignored.  

While the seat‑belt sign was lit and crew members were doing final checks, the plane dropped sharply and then pitched upward.  

Wind speeds shifted by almost 75 miles per hour over just a few thousand feet, causing the cabin to feel like a roller coaster.  

One flight attendant was thrown into the ceiling and then slammed to the floor, breaking her spine.  

Two others lost consciousness in the galley; one suffered a broken femur, crushed vertebrae, and a head injury, while the other sustained facial cuts and brain bleeding.  

Other crew members and passengers who were not buckled up also hit the ceiling, including a baby on a lap and a person in the lavatory.


# **United Airlines Flight Encounters Severe Turbulence**

**Date:** February 10, 2024
**Route:** Los Angeles to Newark

## **The Incident**
A United Airlines flight encountered a sudden storm during descent.

- **Unstable Air Patch:** The aircraft entered a zone of unstable air not flagged by onboard radar.
- **Missed Warning:** A prior report of moderate turbulence from another plane was not relayed to the flight crew.

## **The Aftermath**
- **Sudden Drop & Pitch:** The plane dropped sharply and then pitched upward.
- **Extreme Wind Shifts:** Wind speeds varied by **75 mph** over a short distance, causing violent turbulence.

## **Injuries**
- **Flight Attendant:** Thrown into the ceiling, then slammed to the floor, breaking her spine.
- **Two Other Crew Members:**
  - One suffered a **broken femur, crushed vertebrae, and a head injury**.
  - The other sustained **facial cuts and brain bleeding**.
- **Unbuckled Passengers & Crew:** Several passengers, including a baby on a lap and a person in the lavatory, were thrown into the ceiling.



Unexpected Turbulence Leaves Flight Attendants Hurt

The Incident

The Aftermath

Injuries

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