Airbus A330-323 accident near New York, New York, April 25, 2011
On April 25, 2011 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Airbus A330-323, registered N807NW, was involved in an accident during pushback/towing near New York, New York (John F. Kennedy International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 275 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight attendant's inadvertent fall, which resulted in a serious injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2011 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- New York, New York · John F. Kennedy International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 275 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A330-323 · all A330-323s on the register
- Registration
- N807NW · registry record · serial 0588
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being pushed back from the gate when a flight attendant fell after she stepped on her own foot. She lost her balance and fractured her left femur. According to the injured flight attendant and other crewmembers, the push back was smooth. There were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident that would have caused the flight attendant to fall.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during pushback/towing defining event
- Cabin safety event during pushback/towing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illness/injury › Cabin crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,641 hours in all; 445 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 6, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,748 hours in all; 1,134 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 25, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,795 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,618 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 19, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 513,677 lb
- Seats: 314
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW4168A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW4168A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delta Airlines, INC
The flight
- Departed from: KJFK New York NY at 9:00 pm
- Destination: LGAV Sparta
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from JFK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 7 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 265 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.