HONOLULU — A report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday indicated that a Hawaiian Airlines flight crew likely contributed to a serious incident of turbulence in 2022 by opting to fly over a dangerous storm cell rather than altering their flight path to avoid it.

The incident occurred on December 18, 2022, during a flight from Phoenix to Honolulu, resulting in injuries to three passengers and one crew member, in addition to twenty other individuals sustaining various injuries.

Describing the violent nature of the turbulence, one crew member likened it to a “volcanic explosion.” A passenger, who had left her seat to use the bathroom, recounted that she was violently propelled into the lavatory ceiling and then abruptly thrown to the floor. The report also detailed significant cabin damage, including missing ceiling panels, a cracked overhead light fixture, and a flight attendant’s handset that had shattered into multiple pieces.

In an earlier preliminary review, the flight’s captain had expressed that the weather conditions were calm and clear until an unexpected cloud formation suddenly emerged before the aircraft, resembling a plume of smoke, leaving little time to reroute.

The report highlighted that forecasts at the time indicated unstable atmospheric patterns and isolated thunderstorms. It concluded that the primary reason for the incident stemmed from the “flight crew’s decision to fly over an observed storm cell instead of deviating around it,” despite available meteorological data suggesting a likelihood of severe turbulence.

In response to the findings, the airline stated that they consistently provide training for their crews on how to avoid significant weather conditions, including turbulence during flight. Following the incident with Flight 35, the airline conducted an exhaustive internal review and collaborated with the NTSB to better understand the circumstances that led to the unexpectedly severe turbulence. The airline committed to continuing to draw lessons from this occurrence to enhance safety protocols.