
Two American Airlines flights encountered severe turbulence on separate routes this week, resulting in injuries to three flight attendants.
Both flights one international and one domestic landed safely at their destinations, but the incidents prompted official statements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and temporary groundings for the affected aircraft.
The first incident involved Flight AA37, a Boeing 777-200 (registration N793AN) operating from Madrid Barajas (MAD) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). While cruising at 38,000 feet near Memphis, the aircraft experienced severe turbulence that injured two flight attendants.
Despite the incident, the flight continued to DFW and landed safely about two hours and ten minutes later. The aircraft was grounded for approximately 20 hours before returning to service. The FAA confirmed the event, stating, “Aircraft encountered severe turbulence injuring two flight attendants, Memphis, TN.”
The second event occurred on Flight AA2561, an Airbus A319-100 (registration N730US) traveling from Houston Intercontinental (IAH) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
The aircraft encountered turbulence en route, resulting in one flight attendant injury. The flight landed safely in Philadelphia, and the aircraft was grounded for about 5.5 hours before resuming operations. The FAA noted, “Aircraft encountered severe turbulence injuring a flight attendant, Philadelphia, PA.”
Both incidents have been logged by the FAA, which routinely tracks turbulence events involving crew or passenger injuries.
A similar event took place on November 15, 2024, when American Airlines flight AA168 from Tokyo Haneda to New York JFK encountered severe turbulence, injuring two flight attendants.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration N833AA) completed its 12-hour trans-Pacific flight and landed safely at JFK. The FAA classified the event as significant enough to warrant official reporting and investigation.
American Airlines and the FAA continue to monitor turbulence-related incidents closely. The affected aircraft underwent inspections before returning to service, and both organizations emphasize the importance of crew and passenger safety.