Boeing 777 accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, February 27, 2019
On February 27, 2019 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1999 Boeing 777, registered N771AN, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 217 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the airplanes 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 27, 2019 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 217 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 777 223, built 1999 · all 777s on the register
- Registration
- N771AN · registry record · serial 29579
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 27, 2019, about 1338 Hawaii standard time, American Airlines flight 123, N771AN, a Boeing B777-200, encountered clear air turbulence during initial descent to Honolulu International Airport (PHNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. Of the 219 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant received serious injuries and one received minor injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Dallas, Texas, to PHNL. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was monitoring. The flight had been unremarkable, with a smooth ride while cruising at FL380, in good visual meteorological conditions (VMC). The flight crew stated that about 15 mins before decent they checked the weather with Honolulu Control Facility (HCF) and was informed of turbulence "light to moderate all alts". The captain called the purser and informed him of the expected turbulence and to prepare for the arrival early by stowing the carts and securing the cabin. The seat belt sign was on. About 15 minutes later, they began their initial descent and encountered moderate to severe clear air turbulence about FL310, which lasted about 10 to15 seconds. The ride smoothed out at about FL290, and the flight crew then received a call from the cabin, indicating that two flight attendants in the aft galley had been injured. After landing both injured flight attendants were transported to a hospital where one was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra.
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: 13,476 hours in all; 1,383 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,623 hours in all; 1,573 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 13, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80,857 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 26, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 545,004 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce Trent 892 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce Trent 892 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: KDFW Dallas/Fort Wor TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: PHNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 207 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 25, 2022. 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 | Employee Statements - Capt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Employee Statements - Fo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Employee Statements - First Officer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Employee Statements - Fa Drake | 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.
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.