Boeing 777-223 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, March 15, 2021
On March 15, 2021 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2000 Boeing 777-223, registered N789AN, was involved in an accident during approach near Fort Worth, Texas (Dallas Fort Worth Internationa airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 261 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an encounter with clear air turbulence during approach
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2021 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Dallas Fort Worth Internationa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 261 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 777-223, built 2000 · all 777-223s on the register
- Registration
- N789AN · registry record · serial 30252
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 15, 2021, about 1500 central standard time, American Airlines flight 1601, a Boeing 777, N789AN, encountered turbulence during approach into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 262 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled international passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from Cancun International Airport (MMUN), Cancun, Mexico to KDFW. According to the flight crew, the captain made a public address announcement to the flight attendants to prepare for landing between FL200 and FL190. When passing 8,500 ft on vectors for a visual approach to KDFW, the crew heard another aircraft in the area report turbulence on the ATC frequency. Subsequently, the captain called the number 1 flight attendant (FA) to notify him of the potential turbulence and ensure the flight attendants took their jumpseats. Approaching the GACHO intersection at 6,500 feet, the crew stated the aircraft experienced a moderate “jolt” of turbulence lasting about one second. The flight crew stated that the weather was unrestricted visibility and no precipitation in the vicinity of the turbulence encounter. At the time of the turbulence, the FAs had completed securing the cabin. One FA in the aft galley was thrown into the air and then onto the floor against the right side of the aft galley when attempting to reach her jumpseat. She injured her right hip and had to remain on the galley floor for landing. Paramedics met the flight at the gate and transported the injured FA to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken hip. The number 1 FA stated that he believed the turbulence call to his position should have been an “all call” priority as opposed to a phone call. The other FAs did not indicate they heard any additional warnings of impending turbulence.
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,500 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 18,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Flight time: 9,274 hours in all; 1,284 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: frt
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 79,213 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 14, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 648,000 lb
- Seats: 289
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royce RB.211 SERIES (turbofan); 69,602 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royce RB.211 SERIES (turbofan); 68,735 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: MMUN Cancun OF at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31L, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KDFW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 9 | ||
| Passengers | 252 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 6, 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 | Flight Crew Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cabin Crew Statements | PDF, 7 pages | 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 N789AN 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.