Analysis of Cabin Work Situations in Flight Attendant Injury Cases during Cruise-Phase Turbulence Accidents

Purpose: To describe cabin work situations recorded in flight attendant injury cases during cruise-phase turbulence accidents and identify practical considerations for cabin safety management and aerospace-medical prevention.Methods: Fifty selected National Transportation Safety Board reports with documented flight-attendant injury were reviewed: one from 1998 and 49 from 2000-2025.Cases were identified individually in the Case Analysis and Reporting Online database using the study eligibility criteria rather than drawn from a single database result set.An initial 50-case working set was rechecked; 34 cases were retained and 16 were replaced with additional cases meeting the same criteria.The first author coded and rechecked all 50 cases.Frequencies and percentages were used for descriptive analysis.Movement included flight attendants or passengers when stated.Clinical injury severity could not be evaluated consistently from the reports, and results were interpreted as recorded circumstances within the selected case series.Results: Flight attendant injuries were identified in all 50 cases.Clear-air turbulence accounted for 24 cases and convective-related turbulence for 26.Cabin service was recorded in 26 cases (52.0%), aisle or lavatory movement in 20 (40.0%), and galley work in 17 (34.0%).Prior warning was recorded in 37 cases (74.0%), seat belt sign illumination in 26 (52.0%), seat belt reference in 42 (84.0%),and seat belt non-use in 8 (16.0%).Conclusion: Cabin service, aisle or lavatory movement, and galley work were documented in the selected flight attendant injury cases.These percentages describe recorded circumstances within this selected case series.