Airbus A321-231 accident near Miami, Florida, July 5, 2021
On July 5, 2021, a 2016 Airbus A321-231, registered N156AN, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Miami, Florida. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 180 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadvertent encounter with convective turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2021
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 180 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Airbus A321-231, built 2016 · all A321-231s on the register
- Registration
- N156AN · registry record · serial 6983
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 4th, 2021, at 10:41 pm eastern daylight time, American Airlines flight 2206, an Airbus A321, N156AN, encountered turbulence during descent to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. Of the 181 passengers and crew onboard, one flight attendant was seriously injured. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 from the Dallas-Fort Worth International airport (KDFW), Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to KMIA. According to the flight crew, they observed convective activity that they would descend through during the approach and informed the lead flight attendant to prepare the cabin early and to take their seats. The weather radar was on, and the seatbelt sign was illuminated. Shortly after this, as they descended through between 12,000-10,000 feet, the airplane passed through the tops of a small cumulus buildup and the flight experienced moderate turbulence. When the turbulence was encountered, the #3 flight attendant (FA), located in the aft galley, was thrown into the air and was seriously injured after striking the floor hard. The FAs informed the flight crew of the injury and the captain requested paramedics meet the flight at the gate. After landing, the flight attendant was transported to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured compressed 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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,530 hours in all; 2,530 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,511 hours in all; 352 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,695 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 2, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 206,100 lb
- Seats: 191
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Iae V2533-A5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: KDFW Dallas-Fort Worth TX at 10:33 pm
- Destination: KMIA Miami FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KMIA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMIA 041553Z 13009KT 10SM FEW025 SCT210 BKN250 32/23 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP161 T03220233 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 5 | ||
| Passengers | 175 |
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, 4 pages | 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.