Flight passengers endured a severe jolt followed by a free-fall sensation during turbulent air travel. Authorities point the finger at the pilots in their investigation.
Passengers endured a harsh jerk and then felt like they were free-falling.
One passenger managed to make their way back to their seat during the ordeal.
Objects such as phones, jackets, and water bottles appeared to float around passengers, and two significant impacts were felt.
The events from a 2022 incident near Kahului, Hawaii, are detailed in a recently published National Transportation Safety Board final report, which criticizes the pilots for flying through the cloud instead of navigating around it.
According to earlier CNN reports from the incident, 36 individuals suffered injuries, with 20 being hospitalized.
Prior to Hawaiian Airlines flight 35, which was flying on an Airbus 330-299 and departing from Phoenix towards Honolulu, the captain was informed about "possible turbulence and embedded convective activity" over the Hawaiian Islands.
After a generally calm flight, the pilots reported seeing a "plume" suddenly appear vertically in front of the aircraft filled with 283 passengers.
"It's building fast," one pilot commented.
The crew contacted the lead flight attendant onboard, but the aeroplane swerved shortly afterwards. The lead flight attendant was unable to warn the other seven flight attendants in time.
"Flight attendants and passengers who were not wearing seatbelts were tossed upward, colliding with the ceiling or luggage compartments above them, and then crashing down onto the floor. A passenger who had left their seat to visit the lavatory stated that they felt the aircraft shake; they then smashed face-first into the lavatory ceiling and were abruptly thrown onto the floor," the report says, noting that the plane experienced vertical accelerations double the force of gravity.
One flight attendant suffered serious injuries, and three had minor injuries. A 14-month-old child was also among those injured and later transferred to the hospital.
Investigators indicated that before this flight, there were only seven minor turbulence reports in the area, but the agency also stated that the National Weather Service had forecasted the potential for an unstable atmosphere and challenging flying conditions, meaning the flight crew was aware of the risks along their route.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services informed CNN that the patients' injuries included a severe head injury, lacerations, bruising, and loss of consciousness.
One passenger declared that they were leaving their seat to visit the bathroom and claimed to have felt the aeroplane shake before flying face-first into the bathroom ceiling. They were ultimately thrown onto the floor and had to crawl back to their seat.
The storm was later identified as a Kona storm, which brings heavy rainfall and strong winds to Hawaii from the Southwest.
A cockpit voice recorder recorded the pilots stating after the turbulence that they should have "gone around." The NTSB attributes the incident's probable cause to "the flight crew's decision to fly over an observed storm cell instead of veering off course despite having enough meteorological data to indicate the potential for severe weather."
The seatbelt sign was activated before the incident. However, the captain failed to issue another warning about the turbulence, potentially contributing to additional passenger injuries, according to the NTSB.
Injuries were treated by flight attendants and trained passengers.
The captain had over 12,000 hours of flying experience and approximately 6,000 hours on the same model aircraft.
Damage was found throughout the cabin, including a passenger service unit that fell from an overhead carrier and missing ceiling panels. Further damage was discovered throughout the aircraft, including a flight attendant handset and exit signs.
Hawaiian Airlines did not respond immediately to a request for comment, but previously informed CNN that they were "supporting all affected passengers and employees."
After the harrowing incident, news outlets reported on the travel chaos, causing concern among future travelers. The passengers, having experienced turbulence of unprecedented intensity, are now considering alternative modes of transportation for future travels.
