Boeing 787-9 accident near Tokyo, Outside the U.S., November 15, 2024
On November 15, 2024 at about 9:45 am local time, a 2017 Boeing 787-9, registered N833AA, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Tokyo, Outside the U.S.. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people were seriously injured; 291 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with turbulence while in cruise flight, resulting in serious injuries to two flight attendants.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2024 · about 9:45 am local time
- Place
- Tokyo, Japan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 291 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 787-9, built 2017 · all 787-9s on the register
- Registration
- N833AA · registry record · serial 40645
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
American Airlines flight 168, encountered unanticipated moderate to severe turbulence during cruise at 34,000 feet (FL340) while enroute to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York from Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), Tokyo, Japan. As a result, two flight attendants (FAs) sustained serious injuries. Before departing, the flight crew stated they all reviewed the weather forecast on their weather briefing app before departure and noted no significant turbulence or convective activity. The flight departed HND in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and climbed on the assigned standard instrument departure procedure and leveled off at FL340 in VMC above an overcast layer. The flight crew stated the flight was smooth during the climb out, with occasional “very light” turbulence. During cruise, the captain and the first officer recalled monitoring the weather radar and did not detect any convective activity in the area. Approximately 30-40 minutes after departure, the overcast area rose into the airplane’s altitude. At that time, the FAs were moving around the galley and cabin for service. The captain made an announcement for the FAs to be seated, but the airplane encountered moderate to severe turbulence. After the turbulence subsided, the captain was informed that two FAs had been injured and were unable to continue their duties. Neither requested immediate medical attention. The flight continued uneventfully to JFK, where the injured FAs were met by company personnel and later sought medical evaluation. One FA was diagnosed with a fractured tibia, and another with a fractured ankle. Two additional FAs later reported minor injuries. No passengers were injured.
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 (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Convective turbulence › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 30, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 16, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27,771 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 13, 2024
- Seats: 422
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge GENX-1B74/75/ (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge GENX-1B74/75/ (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: HND Tokyo OF at 9:01 am
- Destination: JFK New York NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | 8 | ||
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 279 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.