NTSB says ‘cloud shot up vertically’ in front of Hawaiian Airlines plane prior to severe turbulence

HONOLULU — The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Friday that a “cloud shot up vertically” in front of a Hawaiian Airlines plane prior to severe turbulence that left 25 people injured last month.

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Just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 18, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 35 from Phoenix to Honolulu faced severe turbulence about 40 minutes prior to landing, the NTSB said in its preliminary report. There were 291 passengers and crew on the plane.

Twenty-five people were injured, six of them with serious injuries. The plane itself had minor damage.

The captain of the plane told investigators that conditions during the flight had been smooth with clear skies, according to The Associated Press. The captain said that a cloud shot up vertically in front of the plane with no time for pilots to change its course, leading to severe turbulence.

Hawaiian Airlines Chief Operating Officer Jon Snook told the AP that turbulence like that is unusual and that Hawaiian Airlines has not recently had a similar experience. He also said that the seatbelt sign was on at the time, and it was noted that some of the injured passengers were not wearing them.

According to the AP, the report has not provided a probable cause of the incident, which is typically included in the final report. The final report is expected in a year or two.

No further information has been released.

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