Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Weather
[We] encountered severe turbulence and two separate lightning strikes while descending into ZZZ. The event occurred while level at 13;000 FT and 250 KTS approximately 20 NM south of ZZZ VOR. We had deviated several times prior to this for moderate rain showers during the arrival but were back on course at the time of the incident. The seatbelt sign was on and we were in continuous light chop and light rain showers with no reports of anything more than light chop. When we encountered the turbulence we immediately lost 20 KTS of airspeed and violently pitched in all axis. We were tossed about in our seats and we lost approximately 150 FT of altitude as the autopilot kicked off. The First Officer was pilot flying and immediately responded to the situation and recovered the aircraft manually. The initial severe turbulence lasted 10-15 seconds. We again confirmed nothing but green showers on our radar. While reporting severe turbulence to ATC our E Flight Attendant notified us that someone was on the floor apparently injured. At that time we were told it was our A Flight Attendant. We had previously been instructed to hold and as we waited to obtain more information from the cabin; we were struck by lightning twice within about a two minute period. We then received additional information that the injured party was a passenger. Now declaring a medical emergency; the First Officer handled both the flying and radios while I continued to receive updated information about the injured party and notified Operations and Dispatch of the need for paramedics. Within a matter of just minutes; our green radar scope turned to multiple cells of yellow and red; and while being vectored; we once again encountered moderate to severe turbulence approximately abeam ZZZ VOR. I continued to communicate with the cabin while informing Operations and Dispatch of our lightning strikes. The remainder of the approach was normal and ATC did a nice job getting us into ZZZ and to the gate quickly. Medics were there to meet us so the communication chain was nicely done by all. There was a rapid change in weather conditions and no warning of turbulence.
An air carrier aircraft approaching ZZZ encountered unannounced severe turbulence and lightning strikes which resulted in a temporary loss of control and injury to a passenger thrown about in the cabin.