Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7.5
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
Aircraft X was on route direct to MANTA intersection and then an arrival into PHL descending to FL280. I had plugged into Sector 31 as the radar controller a couple of minutes prior to the aircraft checking on; and was informed by the previous controller that there were some weather deviations; but surprisingly no bad rides. I issued the weather to Aircraft X and received no response. No more than two minutes later I issued a descent clearance to Aircraft X to cross 35 miles north of MANTA at FL200; no response and I issued it one more time. The pilot read back the clearance and then reported moderate turbulence descending from FL300-280 five miles behind. I thanked him for the report. At this point I was relieved from position to take over as CIC (Controller In Charge) in the area.  A couple of minutes later; the new Sector 31 Controller advised me that Aircraft X encountered moderate to severe turbulence and that there were injuries on board the aircraft. The aircraft was switched to ZNY for more expedient routing.
Aircraft X was flight planned through a FPG (Flight Planning Guidance) that had light-moderate-occasional Turbulence from FL280-FL340. Flight was planned to descend to FL280 at LFV. There was an FPG in the area; if I remember it started just prior to LFV. I had no reports of bad or good rides reported by other Flights in the area.There were no SIGMETs or PIREPs in the area; from other flights traversing the area in question.
Two Controllers and two Dispatchers reported a flight encountered severe turbulence which resulted in injuries to flight attendants and passengers.