NTSB: Turbulence Warning Not Relayed to United Crew
Pilots aboard a United Airlines flight in which three flight attendants were seriously injured were not informed about turbulence reported by another aircraft minutes earlier, according to the final report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The incident involved United Flight 1890, operated by a Boeing 777, traveling from Los Angeles to Newark Liberty International Airport on February 10, 2024. As the aircraft began its descent, it encountered severe turbulence that caused multiple crew members and passengers to be thrown from their positions.
The NTSB’s two-year investigation concluded that while thunderstorms and unstable weather were forecast in the broader region, the flight crew’s onboard radar and electronic weather systems did not indicate significant turbulence along their planned descent path. However, approximately three minutes before the encounter, another aircraft in the same area reported moderate turbulence to air traffic control.
According to the report, the controller did not acknowledge or relay that pilot weather report to other aircraft, including United 1890, as required under Federal Aviation Administration procedures. The controller later told investigators they did not hear the turbulence report.
At the time of the incident, the seatbelt sign was illuminated and flight attendants were conducting final cabin checks before landing. The aircraft suddenly dropped and then pitched sharply upward. Radar data showed wind speeds shifting by nearly 75 miles per hour within a vertical distance of about 4,000 feet, indicating a rapid and intense change in atmospheric conditions.
One flight attendant was lifted to the ceiling and then slammed to the floor, suffering a fractured spine. Two others were seriously injured in the galley and lost consciousness. One sustained a shattered femur, crushed vertebrae and a head injury, while the other suffered facial lacerations and a brain bleed.
Several additional flight attendants and passengers who were not seated with seatbelts fastened also struck the ceiling, including an infant being held on a lap and a passenger inside a lavatory.
The NTSB emphasized the importance of promptly disseminating pilot weather reports to nearby aircraft, underscoring how timely communication can help crews anticipate and mitigate turbulence-related risks.
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