Four flight attendants were injured aboard a United Airlines flight from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday after the Boeing 777-200 encountered severe turbulence during its descent. The incident resulted in one flight attendant being hospitalized, while all 190 passengers on board remained uninjured.
United Airlines turbulence incident details
Flight UA1157 departed Honolulu at approximately 1:00 PM local time, operating the 2,539-mile service to Los Angeles. The aircraft involved is a 31-year-old Boeing 777-200 registered as N769UA. According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the plane was at an altitude of roughly 27,000 feet when it encountered the turbulence.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the aircraft descended more than 3,000 feet in about one minute. Flight-tracking information indicated an altitude reduction of approximately 3,675 feet over that same minute. However, experts note that the aircraft was already in a descent phase, meaning the entire altitude change cannot be automatically attributed to turbulence without further investigation.
Passengers described a frightening experience marked by sudden shaking and a falling sensation. Marly Wadlington told ABC 7 that the event was alarming. She stated, “I was watching a movie, and all of a sudden we just dropped. And it felt like we dropped pretty far. It started shaking, everyone was yelling. We were all super scared.” Other travelers reported seeing a flight attendant with blood on her head.
United Airlines confirmed that its injured employees had been evaluated by medical personnel. According to PEOPLE, no passengers were reported hurt. The precise cause of the turbulence remains unconfirmed, though air traffic control recordings suggest the pilots may have encountered wake turbulence from another aircraft passing through the area.
Risks to flight attendants and crew safety
This event highlights the disproportionate risk flight attendants face during turbulence. FAA statistics show that between 2019 and 2024, 71 crew members and 13 passengers sustained serious turbulence-related injuries aboard US commercial airlines. This means crew members accounted for approximately 85% of serious cases. A 2026 study examining 136 turbulence-related accidents found that flight attendants were injured in 126 cases, or 92% of the time.
Unlike passengers who are seated and belted, flight attendants regularly move through the cabin to secure equipment and assist travelers. This leaves them vulnerable when turbulence strikes unexpectedly. In February 2024, another United 777-200 encountered turbulence during descent into Newark Liberty International Airport, seriously injuring three flight attendants who were making final preparations for landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that in the Newark incident, pilots and cabin crew were not informed of an earlier turbulence report. This reinforces the importance of effective weather communication between flight decks and cabin crews.
Increasing turbulence in the Pacific region
The United Airlines incident follows a pattern of severe turbulence encounters involving flights to and from Hawaii. In December 2022, Hawaiian Airlines flight 35 encountered severe turbulence near Maui, injuring 24 people, including four seriously. The NTSB linked that event to convective weather. Another Hawaiian flight traveling from Honolulu to Sydney in June 2023 also encountered turbulence that required multiple passengers to receive medical treatment.
Research suggests that turbulence is becoming more prevalent in certain regions. According to SFGATE, estimates suggest up to a 30% increase in moderate-or-greater turbulence affecting the Hawaii and West Coast region. This builds on an earlier study by the University of Reading, which found that severe clear-air turbulence increased by 55% over the four decades up to 2020. Scientists link these changes to stronger wind shear driven by global warming.
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that it will investigate the United Airlines incident. Airlines are currently reducing risk through improved forecasting, real-time turbulence reports, and procedures that allow crew to secure themselves earlier. While modern cabin safety practices offer protection, passengers are still advised to keep their seatbelts fastened while seated.
Source: Simple Flying
