Airbus A321 231 accident near Jamaica, New York, June 12, 2016
On June 12, 2016 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 2013 Airbus A321 231, registered N104NN, was involved in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Jamaica, New York. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 109 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an encounter with convective turbulence that resulted in a flight attendant injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2016 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jamaica, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 109 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A321 231 231, built 2013 · all A321 231s on the register
- Registration
- N104NN · registry record · serial 5895
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 12, 2016, about 1645 eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 117, an Airbus A321, N104NN, encountered turbulence in cruise flight at FL170 that resulted in one flight attendant receiving a serious injury. The other 109 passengers and crew members onboard were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York, to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California. The captain stated that after takeoff the he advised the cabin crew to remain in their jumpseats due to possible turbulence. A few minutes later, he announced it was safe to move about the cabin. The captain further stated that seat belt sign was still illuminated at the time of the event, and there were no visible indications of any convective activity in the area. The Captain said that he did not think of this event further, until he was later contacted by a flight attendant who stated that she had been thrown sideways during the turbulence event, and had been injured as a result. The Flight Attendant stated that she did not think much of the incident or injury and she flew for another four days. She then went to her doctor since her ankle was not getting any better and was diagnosed with a fractured foot.
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 enroute (climb to cruise) 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
- Flight time: 8,247 hours in all; 1,988 in this make and model; 1,963 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,181 hours in all; 578 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 205,030 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: JFK New York NY at 7:37 pm
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 22 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 5 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 102 |
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.