SEATTLE— Alaska Airlines (AS) is facing a negligence lawsuit from a passenger who claims she was left with lasting physical injuries and severe travel anxiety after a flight encountered violent turbulence that injured multiple flight attendants. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, alleges the carrier failed to act on available weather warnings before the incident.
The passenger, Natalie Russell, was on board Alaska Airlines flight AS-700 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) on December 26, 2024, when the Boeing 737-9 dropped roughly 200 feet within seconds, slamming passengers and unbelted crew members into the cabin ceiling.
Alaska Airlines Passenger Lawsuit Amid Turbulence
At approximately 1:35 pm, the Boeing 737-9 was cruising over Henderson, Nevada, when it entered a pocket of severe turbulence. According to the preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the flight crew had anticipated possible turbulence in the area and had already turned on the seatbelt signs.
Passengers were instructed to return to their seats and buckle up, and one crew member reportedly warned travelers that conditions were about to worsen.
Despite these precautions, the severity of the event exceeded expectations. Two on-duty flight attendants and a non-revenue flight attendant occupying a jumpseat at the rear of the aircraft were thrown into the air and slammed down onto the galley floor. The crew members at the back of the plane were not strapped in at the time of the encounter.
Passenger Account of the Incident
Russell, who was seated near the rear of the aircraft, described scenes of chaos inside the cabin. She reported hearing the injured flight attendants screaming and moaning in pain, and noticed they were bleeding heavily.
According to the complaint, Russell was wearing her seatbelt but was still thrown upward and struck the ceiling. Her phone flew out of her hand, her earbuds were dislodged, and her drink spilled across the seat. She also witnessed nearby passengers being launched into the ceiling with such force that a panel dislodged and fell into the cabin.
As reported by PYOK, the legal complaint states: “There was panic and terror on the subject flight, both for passengers and flight attendants. Multiple people were injured, screaming and crying. Bleeding flight attendants were lying on the floor.”
One passenger was quoted as saying the cabin “looked like a war zone.”
Decision to Continue to Phoenix
Rather than diverting to a nearer airport, the pilots elected to continue the flight to Phoenix (PHX). The NTSB preliminary report explains that any diversion would have routed the aircraft through an area of even greater turbulence, making continuation the safer option.
The flight deck radioed ahead to Phoenix to arrange for emergency medical services to meet the aircraft upon arrival. Paramedics later boarded the plane to assist the injured crew, though one flight attendant was reportedly in such severe pain that she pleaded not to be moved from the galley floor.
Injuries and Lasting Trauma Claims
The NTSB report indicates that no passengers sustained injuries during the event. However, Russell disputes that finding. She states she visited Urgent Care shortly after landing with complaints of head and neck pain, along with stiffness.
Beyond the physical injuries, Russell says she now suffers from significant mental health effects, including travel anxiety, trauma, and stress.
The lawsuit details that her anxiety has caused her to faint on a subsequent flight, and she experiences sleep disruption for days before any scheduled travel.
Negligence Allegations Against Alaska Airlines
Russell’s attorney argues that the turbulence event was preventable. The lawsuit alleges that multiple weather reports and pilot observations indicated turbulence in the region, which the airline should have factored into its routing decisions.
By failing to reroute or delay the flight, the lawsuit contends, Alaska Airlines acted negligently and should be ordered to pay punitive damages.
The NTSB preliminary report acknowledges that the flight crew was aware of possible turbulence and had taken steps to prepare the cabin. It also notes that the First Officer contacted Air Traffic Control shortly before the incident and was informed there were no recent reports of severe turbulence in the area.
The NTSB investigation into the event remains ongoing.
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