Boeing 747-400 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, April 2, 2002
On April 2, 2002 at about 1:05 am local time, a Boeing 747-400, registered GBNLS, was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). 1 person was seriously injured; 213 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's encounter with turbulence, while climbing to an assigned altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2002 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 213 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 747-400 · all 747-400s on the register
- Registration
- GBNLS · no longer on the register · serial 24629
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 20 minutes after departure, the airplane encountered "moderate turbulence" while climbing through Flight Level (FL) 350. During the turbulence encounter, a passenger was returning to her seat when she fell and broke her right ankle. The flight crew returned to the airport, and the airplane landed without further incident. Turbulence was not forecast for the route of flight, and the seat belt sign was illuminated for the entire fight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,200 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 23, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 270,000 lb
- Seats: 291
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce RB211-524H (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOS Boston MA
- Destination: LHR London
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.52 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from BHB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 17 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 196 |
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.