Airbus A330 323 accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 24, 2018
On February 24, 2018 at about 6:58 pm local time, a 2007 Airbus A330 323, registered N817NW, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold- airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 295 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with clear air turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2018 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold- · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 295 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A330 323 323, built 2007 · all A330 323s on the register
- Registration
- N817NW · registry record · serial 0843
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 24, 2018, at about 1258 central standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 2023, an Airbus A330-323, N817NW, encountered turbulence while descending enroute to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of the 298 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries and two flight attendants sustained minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, Florida, to MSP. According to the flight crew, air traffic control indicated that there were no pilot reports of significant turbulence from preceding airplanes along their descent route. However, the flight encountered severe turbulence as it was descending through about flight level 200. The seatbelt sign was illuminated. When the turbulence was encountered, the flight attendants were beginning their cabin preparations for landing and the flight attendants were thrown to the floor. One flight attendant was thrown against the 4R door, striking her head and back. After landing, the injured flight attendant was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae.
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 (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,184 hours in all; 7,181 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 4, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,764 hours in all; 3,137 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 10, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49,218 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 23, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 513,676 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P & W PW4168A (turbofan); 56,104 hours total
- Engine 2: P & W PW4168A (turbofan); 47,883 hours total
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
The flight
- Departed from: MCO Orlando FL at 3:48 pm
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KMSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 289 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Cabin Crew Statements - 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Cabin Crew Statements - 2 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Cabin Crew Statements - 3 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Cabin Crew Statements - 4 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Cabin Crew Statements - 5 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Cabin Crew Statements - 6 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N817NW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.