United B737 near Billings on Feb 17th 2014, turbulence injures 8

A United Boeing 737-700, registration N23708 performing flight UA-1676 from Denver,CO to Billings,MT (USA) with 114 passengers and 5 crew, was descending towards Billings about 15 minutes prior to landing when the crew declared emergency reporting a flight attendant had been badly injured when the aircraft experienced severe turbulence, the flight attendant was bleeding very badly and they couldn't stop it, medical services were requested to meet the aircraft at the gate. Upon contacting Billings approach frequency the crew indicated they did not have ATIS and requested approach to read the weather information, subsequently opted for a landing on runway 28R. At 13:21L (20:21Z) the aircraft touched down safely on runway 28R about 15 minutes after declaring emergency and taxied to the gate. Two flight attendants received serious, 6 passengers minor injuries.

The airline reported that 3 crew and 2 passengers were injured when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence near Billings. All but one flight attendant were released from hospital later the evening.

The FAA reported the crew declared medical emergency after a flight attendant got injured when the aircraft encountered turbulence.

A passenger reported the aircraft had just left cruise level when the aircraft seemed to drop sharply sending loose items in the cabin and flight attendants to lift off. One flight attendant hit the cabin ceiling very hard causing the panel to crack, then everything came down again onto the floor. A parent holding her baby in her arms could not hold the baby which lifted off, too, but did not seem to have received injuries.

According to FAA radar data the aircraft had been enroute at FL380, initially descended to FL340 about 225nm south of Billings subsequently showing some level deviations at FL340, descended further to FL320 again showing some level deviations before starting the descent towards Billings.

The return flight UA-1119 to Denver was cancelled. N23708 is still on the ground in Billings about 23 hours after the occurrence.

On Feb 19th 2014 the FAA reported in their preliminary reports, that the aircraft was at FL340 when the aircraft encountered turbulence. 2 flight attendants received serious injuries, 6 passengers received minor injuries.

On Feb 19th 2014 the NTSB tweeted they have opened an investigation into the turbulence event.

Infrared Satellite Image GOES-W Feb 17th 2014 21:00Z (Graphics: AVH/NASA):