B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Physiological - Other; Communication Breakdown
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Weather; Human Factors
Incident occurred approximately 250 NM from our filed destination. I was relief for the flight but occupying the FO seat as PM. CA was in the left seat as PF. We were skirting an area of strong convective activity; deviating well north of our filed routing. Visibility was generally good; with patchy areas of blow-off from TRW. Flight attendants were advised 'It will probably get bumpy in 15 minutes' as we approached the area of TRW. Aircraft was autopilot ON; LNAV/VNAV engaged; seatbelt sign ON. We encountered a region of strong/severe turbulence that badly injured one flight attendant; with several others bruised and shaken. Passengers not in their seats with belts fastened were jostled to varying degrees. We expedited our arrival; informing dispatch of the incident; and requesting operations to have paramedics standing by. None of the passengers wanted to be examined by paramedics; all deplaned. The injured flight attendant was taken to a local hospital; she returned with us the next day. Turbulence encounter entered into AC log book.Our approach/deviation around the area of TRW activity was standard. The major deviation we took to the North appeared safe. Obviously; it wasn't. Not all areas of storm activity are the same. They must be treated with the utmost caution.
Approximately 40 min from arrival with the seat belt sign on I advised the FA to expect a choppy ride ahead; approx. 15 min. They began to secure items. I deviated around the weather. We encountered a brief; severe turbulent jolt for approx. 5 seconds; followed by another less pronounced jolt a few seconds later informed by purser that several FA and approx. six passengers were injured with the #2 being the most severe. Two physicians on board attended to her until landing. We taxied in paramedics were standing by. The FA was dispatched to the local hospital for treatment. Passengers were treated by paramedics and released; some declined help.
B777 encountered severe turbulence at cruise prior to descent which resulted in injuries to flight attendants and passengers. An announcement had been made about 15 minutes prior to warn of the turbulence.