Boeing 737-8 accident near Providence, Rhode Island, April 16, 2026
On April 16, 2026 at about 1:30 am local time, a 2022 Boeing 737-8, registered N8787K, was involved in an accident during enroute (descent) near Providence, Rhode Island. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 122 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with turbulence during descent resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2026 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Providence, Rhode Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 122 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-8, built 2022 · all 737-8s on the register
- Registration
- N8787K · registry record · serial 67778
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Southwest Airlines flight 2392, operating between Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois and General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston, Massachusetts encountered moderate turbulence while in descent to BOS. One flight attendant sustained a serious injury and three sustained minor injuries during the turbulence encounter. The aircraft continued to BOS and landed without further incident. The captain was the pilot monitoring and the first officer was the pilot flying. Prior to the flight, the flight crew reviewed the dispatch release and weather forecasts, which indicated turbulence during departure and two weather systems enroute. The flight crew instructed the flight attendants (FA) to remain seated until the turbulence subsided. About 20 minutes into the flight, the flight crew coordinated with the FAs on timing of cabin service and agreed they would be seated if the flight encountered turbulence. While briefing the BOS approach, the flight crew observed that the weather conditions had deteriorated. The flight crew prepared for a Category III (CAT III) instrument landing, which would require a transfer of controls from the first officer to the captain. The flight crew did not anticipate turbulence during descent into BOS. While descending through 14,000 ft, the airplane encountered unexpected moderate turbulence, however, the flight crew recalled that nothing was depicted on the airplane’s weather radar at that time. The flight crew attempted to deviate from their course to avoid further turbulence, but they continued to encounter light to moderate turbulence. At the time of the turbulence encounter, the FAs were preparing the cabin for landing. Two FAs, in the aft galley, were thrown into the air and then onto the floor. One of the forward FAs and a passenger assisted both injured FAs to passenger seats in the last row, then the forward FA took an aft jumpseat for landing. The flight crew requested emergency medical personnel meet the airplane at the gate. The landing was uneventful and both FAs were subsequently transported to the hospital. One FA was treated and released and the other diagnosed with a fractured left foot. The two other FAs reported minor injuries. A National Weather Service Convective Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) was valid for an area about 75 miles west of the event location. SkyPath, a crowdsourced turbulence tracking tool for pilots, did not depict turbulence in the vicinity of the flight. The flight recorded a moderate turbulence event in SkyPath. The hourly meteorological aerodrome report (METAR) for Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD), Warwick, Rhode Island, located about 4 miles east of the turbulence encounter, indicated that the cloud ceiling had descended from 11,000 ft above ground level (agl) to about 9,500 ft agl.
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 › (general) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,889 hours in all; 12,300 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command; 1,033 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,967 hours in all; 2,401 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 790 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,182 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 14, 2026; 11,162 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 181,700 lb
- Seats: 175
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl LEAP-1B28 SER (turbofan); 14,197 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl LEAP-1B28 SER (turbofan); 11,182 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KMDW Chicago IL at 11:10 pm
- Destination: KBOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from KPVD, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPVD 152351Z 15004KT 10SM FEW045 FEW085 SCT120 BKN250 15/11 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP114 T01500111 10289 20144 51013 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 3 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 120 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2026. 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 | Crew Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Packet | PDF, 11 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.
