SkyWest flight 5971, operating for United Airlines as United Express, was en route from Aspen to Houston when it encountered severe turbulence over Texas near Fort Worth. The flight safely diverted to Austin, Texas and was met at the gate by medical personnel.
SkyWest flight 5971 departed Aspen (ASE | KASE) at 23:02 UTC (17:02 local time) bound for Houston (IAH | KIAH). As the flight passed near Fort Worth at an altitude of 39,000 feet, around 00:27 UTC it encountered severe turbulence. ADS-B data from the flight shows a maximum barometric vertical rate of -11,456 feet per minute at 00:27:31 UTC. That rate is a calculated rate by the aircraft’s systems captured at a single moment in time, not a reflection of the total descent.
From 00:27:06 to 00:27:50, the flight descended from 39,000 feet to 34,650 feet before climbing back up to 37,450 feet by 00:28:50. After that point, the aircraft began a descent to land at Austin, squawking 7700 (the squawk code for general emergency) at 00:30:57 UTC.
The graph below shows the altitude and recorded vertical rate for the flight from 00:00 UTC through landing.
Aircraft information
SkyWest flight 5971 was operated by an Embraer E170-200LR, commonly known as the E175. The aircraft has operated with SkyWest since 2014 when it was delivered new to the airline.
6 Responses
When I was a young F/O on the 727 in 1969 we were ferrying from MIA to MSY and the Captain flying went through a cell at around 18,000 feet we lost about 4,000 feet then climbed to 20,000 and settled back around 18,000 and it all took place in about a minute. For the next 23 years of flying I never did it again.
Great summary of a mid-air event. The FR24 tracking network is again shown to be OUTSTANDING in documenting AND reporting inflight events.
David Byrnes (F-KS212 SOON to be back reporting near PDX).
Does the fact that it was met at the gate by medical personnel have anything to do with, well, anything?
Looks like poor piloting technique to me.
Topping CB’s is not recommended when your paid by the minute.
Did they gave advance warning of the flight weather?? I know conditions can change quickly in bad conditions
Look obvious to go to RADAR school and learn to stay out of 40-50 dBz RADAR returns.
Perhaps a good non-airline school would fit just right to get the skills and divert for 4 minutes around this extensive weather event. Another example, not interested in flying in any RJ.