Three Flight Attendants Seriously Injured in United Airlines Turbulence Encounter

On 10 February 2024, United Airlines Flight 1890, a Boeing 777-222ER (N788UA) carrying 280 occupants, was operating a scheduled passenger service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Newark (EWR). While descending toward Newark near Kelsey, New York, the aircraft encountered a sudden area of moderate-to-severe turbulence at around 21,500 feet (FL215) in instrument meteorological conditions. The aircraft experienced rapid vertical accelerations, but remained structurally safe and under autopilot control.

Accident Facts

During this phase, three flight attendants who were still preparing the cabin for landing suffered serious injuries. Weather analysis later showed a cold front, embedded thunderstorms, strong jet stream winds, and significant wind shear in the area, which created severe turbulence conditions. Importantly, another aircraft flying ahead on the same route had reported moderate turbulence just three minutes before the incident.

However, air traffic control failed to acknowledge and pass this PIREP (pilot weather report) to Flight 1890, which reduced the crew’s awareness of the developing hazard. The flight crew’s own weather tools only indicated light to moderate turbulence and did not show the severity at that exact location and altitude. The turbulence caused strong negative and positive g-forces, throwing unsecured cabin crew into the ceiling and cabin structures.

Three flight attendants sustained serious injuries, including spinal fractures, a shattered femur, head trauma, and internal bleeding. The investigation found that the flight crew followed all standard procedures and had taken normal safety precautions. The main contributing factor was that the most critical real-time turbulence warning from the aircraft ahead was not communicated by ATC, despite FAA requirements, which likely prevented the crew from taking additional preventive measures