Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Weather
At 32;000 feet on a direct clearance to a fix when the aircraft experienced moderate to severe turbulence. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the incident the jet was experiencing continuous light chop due to cloud tops. Seat belt sign was illuminated and PA was made. Pilot Monitoring contacted ATC for rides higher when the turbulence was encountered. The Pilot Flying recovered from the unusual attitude. The aircraft experienced bank angles in excess of 50 degrees both directions and the Autopilot disengaged due to the bank angles. Loss of airspeed in excess of 30 to 40 knots also occurred. Pilot Flying applied max power firewall. Barber poles came together however no over speed or under speed clacker. Aircraft lost at least 500 feet and recovered with no excessive force to aircraft. After recovery Pilot Monitoring requested an immediate climb due to the turbulence up to 36;000 feet and was given an immediate climb to 33;000 feet. ATC gave a frequency change with the climb clearance and the next sector gave the continuation climb clearance to 36000 feet. Pilot Monitoring called the cabin immediately after the recovery was stabilized. Flight Attendant A and B and Flight Attendant D were thrown around and sustained minor injuries in the aft galley. Two passengers that were up near the aft lavatories also sustained minor injuries. MED LINK and PARAMEDICS were denied by both passengers. Passenger standing outside the lavatory fell into the lavatory door breaking the door off the hinges which then fell onto the passenger inside the lavatory. The Pilot Monitoring briefed the passengers over PA and contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control. The Captain and First Officer conducted a post flight briefing with Flight Attendants along with a post flight debrief with Flight Attendant Supervisor. The Flight Attendant crew was shook up and felt the aftermath after landing. It is pertinent in situations like these 'emergencies' that the crews are taken well care of by the company regardless of the CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis); policies and procedures. Let's do the right thing for them. During upset recovery the aircraft lost at least 500 feet. This is an approximate guess by the pilots since the loss of airspeed and power at firewall along with excessive bank angles were in the primary scan. ATC gave an immediate climb clearance and the crew complied. No further actions taken. Our route was filed north to stay out of the jet stream for turbulence avoidance. However it is good practice to keep in mind that the Rockies can be unforgiving even when Dispatch tools; WSI (Weather Briefer); ATC and other aircraft are not reporting any anomalies. Maybe the Flight Attendant as a precautionary effort turn the seat belt sign on with a quick PA while crossing over the Rockies as we have posted before. Lesson learned. Staying focused on the flight with situational awareness is key to a safe and successful recovery when the unexpected occurs. I'm glad we were focused and ready in addition to the seat belt sign being illuminated.
An Air Carrier pilot reported encountering unforecasted moderate to severe turbulence over the Rocky Mountains resulting in minor injuries to Flight Attendants.