Turbulence injures flight attendant, four passengers on Eurowings flight to Germany

A Eurowings Airbus A320 flight en route to Germany encountered extreme wake turbulence on May 30, forcing a rapid descent and resulting in injuries. The incident occurred over Bosnia and Herzegovina when the A320, flight EW-635 from Rhodes to Cologne, was cleared to climb to 38,000 feet. At the same altitude, an Emirates Airbus A380, flight EK-1 from Dubai to London Heathrow, was also in the vicinity.

Despite maintaining the International Civil Aviation Organization's recommended separation of approximately seven nautical miles between the superjumbo and a medium-sized aircraft, the Eurowings plane entered a severe turbulence zone. The impact was so violent that a flight attendant was thrown into the aircraft's ceiling, and four passengers sustained minor injuries.

In response, the pilots immediately initiated a rapid descent back to 36,000 feet. The flight continued to Cologne and landed safely, where medical personnel were on hand. The aircraft was grounded for about four and a half hours for flight recorder checks before being returned to service.

Wake turbulence is a natural phenomenon generated by all aircraft, but that produced by the A380 is significantly stronger due to its size. While ICAO recommends a minimum separation of seven nautical miles, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has noted that these minimums reduce but do not eliminate the risk, as turbulence can vary with atmospheric conditions.