Boeing 767 accident near Dulles, Virginia, August 17, 2010
On August 17, 2010 at about 2:05 am local time, a Boeing 767, registered GBNWU, was involved in an accident during approach near Dulles, Virginia (Washington Dulles Internationa airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 1 person was seriously injured; 193 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight encounter with turbulence that resulted in an injury to a cabin attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2010 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Dulles, Virginia · Washington Dulles Internationa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 193 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 767 306 · all 767s on the register
- Registration
- GBNWU · no longer on the register · serial 25829
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to flight data and crew statements, the airplane was descending through about 8,000 feet mean sea level in a 25 degree left bank when it encountered one jolt of turbulence that did not damage the airplane but resulted in a flight attendant being thrown down on the floor, which resulted in multiple facial fractures. The flight attendant was in the aft galley preparing for landing, and the seat belt sign was illuminated. The flight crew had previously deviated for weather, and the airplane was entering a thin cloud top as it was becoming established on final approach. The flight crew and flight attendants also noted that the air was relatively smooth beforehand.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: EGLL London Lhr
- Destination: KIAD Dulles VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 6 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 185 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.