Four flight attendants injured as severe turbulence rocks United flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles

Four United Airlines flight attendants were injured after Flight UA1157 encountered “severe turbulence” during its descent into Los Angeles on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. One was taken to hospital, United Airlines confirmed; none of the 190 passengers aboard were hurt. (https://people.com/multiple-united-crew-members-injured-during-severe-turbulence-on-flight-to-los-angles-12187947)

The 31-year-old Boeing 777-200, registered N769UA, departed Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at around 1 p.m. local time and landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport just before 9 p.m., according to FlightAware data. (https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-777-drops-3000-feet-4-flight-attendants-injured/)

Air traffic control recordings show the pilot reporting the encounter at about 27,000 feet, roughly 10 miles out. “It only lasted a couple seconds. Felt like wake turbulence,” the pilot said, later identifying two injured female attendants, aged 62 and 58. At least two suffered neck and back injuries, per the New York Post. (https://nypost.com/2026/10/22/us-news/united-airlines-flight-attendants-injured-after-severe-turbulence-rocks-hawaii-to-lax-flight/)

Flight data showed the jet dropping as much as 3,675 feet in one minute during the final 20 minutes — falling from 22,800 to 14,000 feet in two and a half minutes. The aircraft was already descending, so the figures cannot be attributed entirely to the turbulence.

Passengers described a terrifying jolt. “I was watching a movie and all of a sudden we just dropped,” Marly Wadlington told KABC. “And it felt like we dropped pretty far. It started shaking, everyone was yelling.” Tami Dandoy said: “Our butts were not on the seat,” while Coral Pena recalled a loud bang before the drop.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it will investigate the incident. The precise cause remains unconfirmed. (https://beatofhawaii.com/passengers-describe-sudden-drop-that-injured-four-hawaii-flight-crew/)