JAL B763 near Kagoshima on Nov 10th 2016, turbulence injures cabin crew

Last Update: September 28, 2017 / 15:53:59 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of JAL Japan Airlines JA658J, Boeing 767-300 — JAL Japan Airlines JA658J, Boeing 767-300 (Photo credit: muroi8210 / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 10, 2016

Classification
Accident

Cause
Turbulence

Airline
JAL Japan Airlines

Flight number
JL-646

Departure
Kagoshima, Japan

Destination
Tokyo Haneda, Japan

Aircraft Registration
JA658J

Aircraft Type
Boeing 767-300

ICAO Type Designator
B763

A JAL Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration JA658J performing flight JL-646 from Kagoshima to Tokyo Haneda (Japan), was climbing out of Kagoshima when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing a serious injury to a flight attendant. The aircraft continued to Tokyo's Haneda Airport for a safe landing about 70 minutes after departure.

Japan's TSB reported a cabin crew received serious injuries during climb shortly after takeoff when the aircraft encountered turbulence. An investigation into the occurrence has been opened.

On Sep 28th 2017 the JTSB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the accident were:

In this accident, it is probable that the CA suffered the injury, because during the takeoff climbing at the time of the seat belt signs to be turned on, as the CA found an infant crawled out of the hands of the custodian to the vacant next seat and attempted to stand up in order to call out, lost balance, fell backward to the floor at right of the jump seat.

It is somewhat likely that the CA lost balance, because the shake of the Aircraft increased its strength again due to the turbulence when the CA tried to stand up.

The JTSB reported the captain was pilot monitoring and the first officer pilot flying. Prior to departure the captain had the first officer instruct cabin crew that they were expecting turbulence about 10-15 minutes after takeoff while climbing through clouds. The first officer advised that the fasten seat belt signs would remain illuminated until 15 minutes into the flight. During climb the weather radar did not show any significant returns, however, between FL100 and FL130 the aircraft experienced light to moderate turbulence, the captain provided a pilot report. The turbulence diminished above FL140, the first officer set the autopilot speed to 310 KIAS at FL200 and extinguished the fasten seat belt signs climbing through FL220.

About 6 minutes after bcoming airborne a flight attendant seated in the aft left cabin observed that an infant, that had been held on the lap of the custodian, crawled out of the custodian grip onto the vacant seat next to the custodian. The fasten seat belt signs were still illuminated. The flight attendant called out loudly to the custodian, however, there was no reaction. The flight attendant perceiving the situation could become dangerous if not improving and decided to intervene, at that time the turbulence had reduced. While unfastening her seat belt she called out again, stood up holding on her right hand shoulder harness - however, exactly at that time the aircraft encountered severe jolts again throwing the flight attendant off balance and the flight attendant, sensing she was floating, fell backwards to the right of her seat. The flight attendant stood up and returned to her jump seat. After the fasten seat belt signs were turned off she reported the occurrence to the purser, she felt pain and was seated in the aft jump seat for the remainder of the flight. After arrival she was taken to a hospital where a bone fracture was diagnosed.