Hawaiian Airlines flight hits severe turbulence

HAWAIIAN AIRBUS A330-243 N389HA (MSN 1316)

Dozens of people were injured after a Hawaiian Airlines flight travelling from Phoenix (PHX/KPHX) to Honolulu (HNL/PHNL) encountered severe turbulence before landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Sunday.

The call came in at 11:06 a.m. The flight, HA35, experienced the severe turbulence roughly 30 minutes outside of Honolulu, at about 36,000 feet and just before it began its final descent.

On scene, paramedics and emergency medical technicians with both Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and American Medical Response (AMR) treated 36 patients, of those 20 patients -- ranging from adults to a 14-month old -- were taken to the hospital.

Three flight attendants were among the injured, according to a Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson.

The initial triage at the hospital reported some patients as being in critical condition but officials said a later triage at the hospital upgraded the conditions to serious.

Officials confirmed 11 patients were taken to the hospital in serious condition and nine patients were taken in stable condition with minor injuries. Of the injured, 13 patients were taken by ambulance to the hospital while seven others took a city bus.

Patients’ injuries included serious head injury, lacerations, bruising, and loss of consciousness. Other reported injuries included nausea and dizziness, officials said.

The plane, an Airbus A330, will require maintenance before it is allowed to fly again. Most of the damage sustained to the aircraft was internal, according to a spokesperson with Hawaiian Airlines.

A spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the following statement about this incident:

“Hawaiian Airlines Flight 35, an Airbus A330, reported severe turbulence with injuries to crew and passengers on its flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport around 10:35 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time Sunday, Dec. 18.”

The FAA is investigating this incident and says it will post a preliminary report soon.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Hawaiian Airlines:

Code: HA/HAL

Aircraft: Airbus A330-243

Registration: N393HA

Serial Number: 1422

Engines: 2 x RR Trent 772B-60

First Flew: 03/06/2013

Age: 9 Yrs 5 Mts