On 25 September, a JetBlue scheduled flight operating between Guayaquil, Ecuador and Fort Lauderdale, Florida encountered severe turbulence whilst in the cruise enroute, with several occupants sustaining injuries as a result.
JetBlue flight B61256 Guayaquil – Fort Lauderdale
JetBlue flight B61256, an Airbus A320, was operating the scheduled service from Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) in Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) on Monday 25 September.
Whilst in the cruise at FL360 (36,000 feet) in the vicinity of Jamaica whilst en route to Fort Lauderdale, the aircraft encountered a region of unexpected severe turbulence.
Data for the flight shows that the aircraft experienced altitude deviations of approximately -50’ to +25’ during the transit.
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8 hospitalized on arrival FLL
The flight regained cruising altitude of FL360 and continued to the destination of FLL where it landed approximately one hour later without incident.
Flight 1256 did not declare a formal emergency as a result of the in-flight encounter, and it is understood that seven passengers and one flight crew member were taken to a local hospital after the flight landed.
The aviation safety body NTSB has now opened an investigation into yesterday’s incident, stating:
“NTSB has opened an investigation into today’s turbulence incident that occurred on JetBlue #1256, an Airbus A320, during cruise flight near Jamaica while en route from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Numerous injuries reported.”
The aircraft involved in yesterday’s subject flight was an Airbus A320-200, registered N569JB; a 20-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the US carrier JetBlue.
Data for the flight shows the aircraft had made an on-time departure out of Guayquil, Ecuador at 23:51 local time on September 23.
The flight then proceeded normally on the northerly track for FLL, climbing to cruising altitude before encountering the turbulence in the vicinity of Jamaica.
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