Overview

• American Airlines Flight 1286, an Airbus A321 bound for Raleigh-Durham, hit sudden unexpected turbulence late Sunday shortly after cabin service began.
• RDU Fire Rescue and Wake and Durham County EMS crews transported three flight attendants and two passengers to WakeMed Hospital, where they were treated and released.
• Passengers reported serious injuries including a broken arm, burns from hot water and a brief loss of consciousness despite the seatbelt sign being illuminated.
• The aircraft landed safely at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 10:50 p.m. local time and was met by emergency personnel at approximately 11:30 p.m.
• The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a formal investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the sudden turbulence.