On April 1st, 2024, a Japan Airlines flight (JL774) traveling from Melbourne to Tokyo Narita encountered severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to four flight attendants. The Boeing 787-8, carrying passengers on a nearly 10-hour journey, was cruising at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet when the incident occurred. As the aircraft descended towards Narita around 3:40 pm JST, it reportedly hit a patch of rough air at 15,000 feet.
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The sudden turbulence caused injuries to four crew members. One flight attendant suffered a serious leg injury, diagnosed as a fractured right thigh. The remaining three crew members sustained sprains. Despite the in-flight incident, the pilots maintained control of the aircraft and were able to land safely on runway 16L at Narita Airport. The injured flight attendants received medical attention upon landing. Japanese authorities, including the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, have confirmed the incident.
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) is currently investigating the cause of the turbulence and its impact on the flight. Turbulence is a relatively common occurrence in air travel, though severe episodes can cause injuries to passengers and crew alike.
Flight attendants are particularly vulnerable during turbulence as they are typically moving around the cabin to perform their duties. Following the incident, Japan Airlines has not released any official statement regarding the turbulence or the condition of the injured flight attendants.