Accident: KLM A332 over Mediterranean on Oct 14th 2016, turbulence causes injuries

A KLM Airbus A330-200, registration PH-AOB performing flight KL-588 (dep Oct 13th) from Lagos (Nigeria) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was enroute at FL380 over the Mediterranean Sea about 130nm south of Marseille (France) at 01:33Z when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing an altitude deviation of +100 feet (at more than 1500 fpm vertical climb speed). The aircraft returned to FL380, step climbed to FL400 about 20 minutes later and continued to Amsterdam, where a number of ambulances were waiting for the arrival of the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely on Amsterdam’s runway 06 about 100 minutes later. Five passengers and two cabin crew received minor injuries in the encounter.

Schiphol Emergency Services reported that several occupants of the aircraft received minor injuries in the turbulence encounter, however, only one person needed to be investigated by ambulance staff.

The airline reported five passengers and two cabin crew received minor injuries in the severe turbulence encounter above the Mediterranean Sea.

ACARS Data received from the aircraft about 40 minutes after the upset suggest that the flight may have encountered flight control problems as well (times in UTC).

Aviation Herald