Created Friday, Aug 29th 2025 17:48Z, last updated Wednesday, Jul 22nd 2026 17:21Z
An Air France Airbus A320-200, registration F-HBNJ performing flight
AF-4236 from Paris Orly to Ajaccio (France), was descending through FL200 towards Ajaccio when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence causing injuries on board. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 20 about 13 minutes later.
The French BEA reported the aircraft entered an area of severe turbulence, 5 people on board received serious injuries. The occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated.
On Jul 22nd 2026 the BEA released their final report in French (an English version can be expected in due time) concluding the probable causes of the accident were:
The following may have contributed to the late detection of an area of severe convective turbulence during the descent:
- a relatively high workload in the fifteen minutes or so preceding the passage through the area of turbulence: arrival briefing and performance calculations, course changes, radio frequency changes, discussion regarding the passenger present in the forward galley, checking weather conditions at neighbouring airfields, and announcements to passengers;
- a possible lapse in vigilance whilst flying over the Mediterranean Sea, which may have compromised active radar surveillance. The weather forecasts consulted prior to departure were favourable for the overflight of the sea, and the isolated convective cell was not identified by eWAS, which had been consulted prior to the descent;
- the use of an on-board weather radar requiring regular manual adjustments to the tilt, during an already busy phase of flight. The latest-generation radars have automatic functions that facilitate detection;
- the failure of air traffic control to provide information regarding the development of the convective cell on the aircraft’s flight path. This information could have been displayed on a secondary screen available to the controllers on duty. The guidelines for controllers erroneously suggest that this information is less accurate than that available on board.
Related Flight:
AF4236,
Air France News
