Four United Airlines flight attendants were injured when Flight 1157 from Honolulu hit severe turbulence during its descent into Los Angeles on Wednesday night, according to United and local reporting cited by Simple Flying. The Boeing 777-200 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) just before 9:30 p.m., carrying 190 passengers and 10 crew members; United said no passengers were reported injured.
Source: Simple Flying
The turbulence lasted only a few seconds. A pilot told air traffic control it felt like wake turbulence — the counter-rotating air vortices left behind another aircraft — adding, “but we're smooth now,” according to flight audio reported by the New York Post and carried by Internewscast. The pilot requested medical help at the gate before landing, so medics were waiting when the aircraft arrived, WENG Radio reported.
Source: WENG Radio (ABC7/LA Times reporting)
All four attendants received medical attention and one was taken to hospital, WENG reported. ABC7 reported at least two of the attendants had neck and back injuries, and that the aircraft stayed on the tarmac for at least 30 minutes after landing while the injured crew remained aboard waiting for a gate. Flight data showed the flight arrived about 20 minutes late.
Source: WENG Radio (ABC7/LA Times reporting)
A descent figure that needs care
The Los Angeles Times, cited by Simple Flying, reported the aircraft descended more than 3,000 feet (about 914 metres) in about one minute during the encounter. Simple Flying noted that such an altitude change does not necessarily mean an uncontrolled drop caused by the turbulence itself, and no official cause for the turbulence has been announced.
Source: Simple Flying
Flight attendants are the people most exposed when rough air hits during descent, because passengers are seated and belted while crew are on their feet doing final cabin checks. Simple Flying, citing FAA statistics, noted flight attendants accounted for 85 percent of serious turbulence injuries on U.S. commercial airlines between 2019 and 2024 — which is why crews repeat the advice to keep a seatbelt fastened whenever seated, even when the air looks calm.
Source: Simple Flying
Flight: United 1157, Honolulu to Los Angeles, Boeing 777-200, Wednesday night. On board: 190 passengers, 10 crew. Injured: four flight attendants medically evaluated, one taken to hospital; no passenger injuries reported (United). The plane landed safely at LAX just before 9:30 p.m.
What is solid
- Four flight attendants were injured and medically evaluated; one was taken to hospital (United via local reporting / Simple Flying)
- No passengers were reported injured, and the flight landed safely at LAX (United)
- 190 passengers and 10 crew were on board
What is only claimed
- Whether the encounter was wake turbulence — the pilot said it felt like wake turbulence; no official finding has been announced
- The reported descent of more than 3,000 feet in about a minute (LA Times via Simple Flying) — an altitude change that does not by itself prove an uncontrolled drop