NTSB: Pilot Error Caused Hawaiian Airlines Turbulence

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that the decision by a Hawaiian Airlines flight crew to fly over a hazardous storm cell, rather than circumvent it, was the main cause of severe turbulence that injured 24 people, including four seriously, in December 2022. The flight from Phoenix to Honolulu encountered a 'vertical cloud' that led to significant cabin damage and injuries when passengers and crew were violently tossed around. Despite having meteorological information suggesting possible severe turbulence, the pilots did not anticipate the plume's severity and failed to issue a verbal warning, which may have exacerbated the injuries. Hawaiian Airlines stated they regularly train crews on weather avoidance and have conducted a review to prevent future occurrences. In a related case, a JetBlue flight also encountered unexpected severe turbulence in September 2023, despite having weather radar and situational awareness tools active, highlighting challenges in predicting and avoiding such incidents. Both airlines are cooperating with the NTSB to improve safety protocols.