Passenger Killed in Business Jet due to Severe Turbulence

A passenger onboard Bombardier Challenger 300 jet was killed on Friday when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence while traveling from Keene, N.H. to Leesburg, Va. The plane was carrying two crew members and three passengers and was forced to land in Windsor Locks, Conn. Officials have not yet identified the deceased passenger, who was taken to a nearby hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident and has removed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorders from the plane.

The cause and nature of the turbulence, as well as any related injuries, have not been released to the public. This unfortunate incident follows several other turbulence-related accidents, including one in which seven passengers were hospitalized after a Lufthansa flight encountered extreme turbulence, and another in which 36 people were injured during turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight.

Turbulence is a common cause of accidents on aircraft carrying passengers or cargo. According to the N.T.S.B, turbulence accounted for over a third of such aircraft accidents from 2009 to 2018, resulting in one or more serious injuries but no aircraft damage. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows that from 2009 to 2021, there have been 146 passengers and crew seriously injured by turbulence.