Emirates A388 near Dubai on Sep 13th 2015, turbulence causes serious injuries to 10 cabin crew

Last Update: January 5, 2016 / 17:58:43 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Emirates Airlines A6-EEA, Airbus A380-800 — Emirates Airlines A6-EEA, Airbus A380-800 (Photo credit: markyharky / Flickr / License: CC by)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 13, 2015

Classification
Accident

Cause
Turbulence

Airline
Emirates Airlines

Flight number
EK-806

Departure
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Destination
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Aircraft Registration
A6-EEA

Aircraft Type
Airbus A380-800

ICAO Type Designator
A388

Airport
Dubai International Airport, Dubai

Airport ICAO Code
OMDB

An Emirates Airbus A380-800, registration A6-EEA performing flight EK-806 from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) with 159 passengers and 27 crew, was descending towards Dubai, the crew observed no weather returns on their weather radar while descending through a scattered undercast layer of cloud, when the crew noticed a single cloud ahead. The pilot flying reduced the speed, the pilot monitoring requested to deviate around the cloud, however, about 3-4 seconds after passing the cloud the aircraft encountered up and down drafts resulting in 10 cabin crew receiving serious injuries. The aircraft continued for a landing without further incident on Dubai's runway 30L.

The aircraft remained on the ground for 19 hours before resuming service.

On Sep 22nd 2015 the French BEA reported in their weekly bulletin that the occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated by United Arab Emirates' GCAA.

On Jan 5th 2016 the United Arab Emirates GCAA released their preliminary report stating that 1 cabin crew member received serious (fracture of right ankle) and 9 cabin crew members minor injuries.

The GCAA confirmed that there were no radar returns on the weather radar. The aircraft was descending towards Dubai about 20 minutes prior to estimated landing, cabin crew was busy securing the cabin for arrival, the seat belt signs were illuminated. Descending through FL180 about 108 track miles before touchdown the aircraft descended below the scattered under cast cloud layer, when the crew observed a cloud formation straight ahead and requested to deviate to the right to avoid the cloud and associated turbulence. ATC cleared the deviation to the right but observed the aircraft turn left. The crew stated upon query by ATC, that they were clear of the cloud. After returning to the previous heading the aircraft encountered vertical accelerations of up to +2.2G over several seconds, the autopilot remained engaged. One cabin crew member was reported injured and unable to continue duties, the flight attendant was moved to a passenger seat for the remainder of the flight.

The local weather office reported towering clouds with their bases at 3000 feet started developing along the mountains.

Metars:
OMDB 131300Z 32014KT 9999 FEW040 36/20 Q1007 NOSIG
OMDB 131200Z 32014KT 9999 FEW040 37/19 Q1007 NOSIG
OMDB 131100Z 32012KT 9999 FEW040 38/19 Q1007 NOSIG
OMDB 131000Z 35014KT 8000 NSC 38/20 Q1007 NOSIG
OMDB 130900Z 04005KT 320V090 CAVOK 41/15 Q1008 BECMG 35012KT
OMDB 130800Z 11006KT 050V210 CAVOK 41/09 Q1009 BECMG 35012KT
OMDB 130700Z 11005KT 060V200 CAVOK 39/13 Q1009 BECMG 35012KT