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Injuries Due to In-Flight Turbulence During United States Commercial Airline Flights (2008-2023).
Aditya C Shekhar1, Keith J Ruskin2
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
The American Surgeon
|November 10, 2025
Summary
Commercial airline turbulence causes significant passenger and flight attendant injuries, primarily fractures, during enroute flight phases. Further research is crucial for developing effective turbulence safety strategies.
Area of Science:
- Aviation Safety
- Injury Biomechanics
- Transportation Research
Background:
- Unexpected turbulence poses a risk of injury and mortality to airline passengers.
- Understanding injury mechanisms is vital for enhancing aviation safety protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze injury patterns and accident circumstances related to turbulence on commercial flights.
- To identify trends in turbulence-related incidents using a national accident database.
Main Methods:
- Examined National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident reports from 2008-2023.
- Queried reports for "turbulence" in probable cause sections for accidents with serious injuries.
- Abstracted data on causes, circumstances, and injury types.
Main Results:
- 136 turbulence-related accidents resulted in 143 serious and 218 minor injuries.
- Flight attendants were injured in 92.6% of accidents, predominantly during enroute flight.
- Common injuries included ankle (26.5%), leg (14.0%), and spine (12.5%) fractures.
Conclusions:
- Turbulence-related accidents exhibit distinct injury patterns and circumstances.
- Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate risks associated with in-flight turbulence.
- Further investigation is required to develop solutions for reducing turbulence-related injuries.
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