A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the severe turbulence experienced by a Hawaiian Airlines flight in December 2022 was likely caused by the flight crew's decision to fly over a storm cell, rather than diverting around it.
The turbulence, which injured both passengers and crew members, occurred on a flight from Phoenix to Honolulu on 18 December, 2022.
According to the NTSB's final report, three passengers and one crew member sustained serious injuries, and a total of 20 people were hurt during the incident. One crew member described the event as reminiscent of a "volcanic explosion," while a passenger who had been in the lavatory at the time of the turbulence reported being violently thrown against the ceiling and then to the floor. Cabin damage included missing ceiling panels, a broken overhead light, and a handset that was shattered into pieces.
Earlier in the investigation, the flight’s captain had told authorities that conditions were calm and the skies were clear when a sudden, towering cloud appeared in front of the plane, resembling a plume of smoke. The crew said they did not have time to change their flight path.
The NTSB’s final report stated that meteorological forecasts had predicted unstable weather conditions and isolated thunderstorms for the area, and determined that the crew’s decision to fly over the storm cell—despite warnings of potential severe turbulence—was the probable cause of the accident.
In response to the findings, Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement that it regularly trains its crews to avoid severe weather and turbulence. The airline also stated that after Flight 35, they conducted a thorough internal review and worked closely with the NTSB to understand what led to the unexpected turbulence. "We will continue to learn as much as we can from this event," the airline added.
