What is Turbulence?

Turbulence is air movement that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by many different conditions, including atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. Turbulence can even occur when the sky appears to be clear.

While turbulence is normal and happens often, it can be dangerous. Its bumpy ride can cause passengers who are not wearing their seat belts to be thrown from their seats without warning. But by following the guidelines suggested on this site, you can help keep yourself and your loved ones safe when traveling by air.

What should passengers do to avoid injuries?

Passengers can prevent injuries from unexpected turbulence by:

• Keeping their seat belt buckled at all times. FAA regulations require passengers to be seated with their seat belts fastened:
  • When the airplane leaves the gate and as it climbs after takeoff
  • During landing and taxi
  • Whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated during flight
• Listen to the pilots and flight attendants.
• Pay attention to the safety briefing at the beginning of your flight and read the safety briefing card.
• Buckle up children. The safest place for little ones under the age of two is in a government approved child seat or device. Learn more tips in our section about flying with children and these podcasts:
  • Flying with Kids: Tips from an Expert
  • Flying with Kids: Tips from a Flight Attendant
  • Turbulence Explained for Kids
• Prevent inflight injuries by adhering to your airline’s carry-on restrictions.

How is the FAA helping airlines avoid turbulence and prevent injuries?

The FAA has a three-decade history of working to prevent turbulence injuries. 

The agency developed guidance to help airlines avoid the conditions that cause turbulence and minimize the risks when airplanes do encounter it. Some of the material was based upon investigative work from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The FAA also encourages airlines to use operating procedures and training to prevent turbulence injuries, prioritize flight attendants’ personal safety, and gather data and review the air carrier’s history of turbulence encounters and injuries. 

Through a contract with the National Center for Atmospheric Sciences (NCAR), the FAA developed a turbulence “nowcast” that provides rapidly updated, 15-minute turbulence forecasts so pilots and airline dispatchers can make tactical decisions on how to avoid it. A beta version of the product is available from NCAR for airlines and other stakeholders.

Actions the FAA is Taking

• Improved data collection and sharing
• Modernizing the Pilot Report System (PIREPS) where pilots communicate weather conditions, including turbulence.
• Improving automation to enable pilots and air traffic controllers to digitally enter and share reports, rather than having to do so verbally.
• Encouraging pilots to file more reports.
• Using more data in dispatching
  • Training for air traffic controllers about the importance of soliciting and disseminating PIREPs.
  • Using automation and data displays to route aircraft around weather systems.
  • Promoting real-time information sharing between pilot and dispatcher, and including turbulence in weather briefings.

Additional Resources

Learn how turbulence and weather could affect your flight and how you can be prepared with these resources:

• Podcast: Convective Weather and How it Could Affect Your Flight
• More flight safety tips
• Turbulence happens! YouTube Video
• Advisory Circular 120-88A Preventing Injuries Caused by Turbulence
• Advisory Circular 00-30C Atmospheric Turbulence Avoidance
• Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid
• Computer Simulation of an Aircraft Cabin

Data - Part 121 Serious Turbulence Injuries 2009 to 2023

Source: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB requires airlines to report serious injuries and fatalities.  A serious injury is “any injury that (1) requires the individual to be hospitalized for more than 48 hours, commencing within seven days from the date the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal organ; or (5) involves second-or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than five percent of the body surface.” The FAA tracks these reports, but not general incidents of turbulence.