Cabin attendant injured due to the turbulence on JAL646

Outline

On November 10, 2016, a cabin attendant on JAL646 (from Kagoshima Airport to Haneda Airport) fell and sustained a pelvic (sacral bone) fracture on encountering turbulence during takeoff climb when she tried to call attention to a baby who was moving around on the seat.

Investigation into the cause

It is assumed that the cabin attendant attempted to stand up in order to warn the parent in a loud voice but lost her balance, fell backward onto the right-side floor of the jump seat, and sustained injured. As for the reason why the cabin attendant lost her balance, the probable cause is that the aircraft was rocked again by turbulence when she tried to stand up.

Countermeasures

JAL implemented the following measures after this accident.

1. Disseminated to cabin attendants, precautions when temporarily leaving one’s seat(*), procedures when calling the attention of an infant’s parents before takeoff and landing, procedures for making cabin announcements to protect infants while the seat belt sign is turned on, and handling procedures when cabin attendants are injured.
   * In case it is judged that serious damage would occur unless quick actions were taken, the cabin attendant shall leave her/his seat and respond at his/her discretion.
2. Reflected in the manual, procedures for making cabin announcements about protecting infants while the seatbelt sign is turned on.
3. Posted procedures to protect infants while the seatbelt sign is turned on in inflight magazines and to the JAL website to inform customers.