Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Weather
I was the captain and the pilot flying. On our descent passing through 18;000 ft; we made our initial PA announcement to have all of the passengers seated for our arrival and turned the seatbelt sign on. There was a layer of scattered white puffy clouds with tops at 13;500 and bases at 11;000 feet. There was not any convective activity in the area and nothing in the ATIS about severe turbulence. When we reached the cloud layer; we encountered severe turbulence sending one of the aft flight attendants into the ceiling. Two of the passengers also hit the plastic panels above their seats because apparently they were not wearing their seat belts contrary to the illuminated seatbelt sign being on and the announcement from the flight crew members that was previously made. We then called and talked to the Lead Flight Attendant to check everyone out and she then had called us back to tell us that one of the aft flight attendants was hurt. We then called ops and requested an ambulance. We then told ATC about the severe turbulence we had just encountered and also asked for an ambulance and then asked them for a short base turn to get the aircraft on the ground. We then landed the aircraft and taxied to gate. The paramedics met the aircraft to check out the injured flight attendant and determined that she needed to go to the hospital. The two passengers walked off the aircraft and never asked for any medical attention from us.With that being said; I made four entries in the aircraft log book:1.)The aircraft encountering severe turbulence and speed between 280-340 and lasted 6-8 sec straight and level flight. 2.)O2 panel was damaged in row XX ABC.3.)Side panel damage in XX ABC 4.)The tray table was damaged in Row XY seat E.
A320 Captain experiences severe turbulence during descent; upon entering scattered white puffy clouds with tops at 13;500 feet; at a speed of 340 to 280 knots. Two passengers and a Flight Attendant are tossed into the overhead; with the Flight Attendant requiring medical attention.