B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 288
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
While climbing through FL360 to our assigned altitude of FL370 we encountered severe wake turbulence from a preceding MD-11 aircraft; which was at an altitude of FL390 and on a diverging heading. Our aircraft suddenly made a violent left banking roll and pitched up. The bank exceeded approximately 30 degrees of roll. We also had momentary loss of aircraft control. I was the Pilot Flying and immediately disconnected the autopilot and had to aggressively apply pitch and roll input in order to get the aircraft back under control. We immediately contacted ATC to report the incident and to Dispatch via ACARS. We also contacted the Flight Attendants to check their status of any injuries as well as the passengers. The Flight Attendants reported no injuries to themselves or the passengers. One Flight Attendant did report she had fallen on top of the passengers but was OK. Approximately 30 minutes later the same Flight Attendant notified us that she was not feeling well and wanted to get replaced once we arrived. We asked her if she needed any medical attention and she refused. We continued with no other issues. Once we landed I called Dispatch; Maintenance Control; and the Chief Pilot on Call. A logbook entry was made due to the severe wake turbulence.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737 flight crew reported a momentary loss of control climbing through FL360 after encountering severe wake turbulence from an MD-11 at FL390.