Turbulence is one of the most common safety events in commercial aviation, with studies showing there are tens of thousands of moderate and severe turbulence events every year. In most cases of turbulence, passenger injury does not occur, particularly if the flight crew have warned the cabin of impending turbulence. However, turbulence can sometimes strike without warning or at inopportune times, leading to serious injury for many on board.
As a leading cause of serious injury in commercial aviation, the impact of turbulence on safety remains a high priority. There are numerous turbulence mitigation strategies and technologies at play in the aviation industry today, helping pilots prepare for or avoid upcoming turbulence zones. US planemaker 
Boeing is researching ways to tackle turbulence and recently developed two patented systems aimed at detection and airflow control.
Boeing Looking At New Turbulence Technology
As laid out in Boeing’s two patents (US4258823A and EP1842081A2), the company is exploring turbulence mitigation from various angles. With turbulence events on the rise in recent years, the industry is harnessing new technology to develop solutions. This will become increasingly important if experts’ warnings of more turbulence in the years ahead are true.
One of these patents — named the System for Measuring Turbulence Remotely — involves a system for measuring turbulence remotely via advanced electromagnetic sensors, enabling pilots to have enhanced warning of upcoming turbulence patches to ultimately make better navigation decisions. The planemaker ultimately envisions this as a global, interconnected system that will produce a real-time 3D map of turbulence.
The other patent — called the Inflow Turbulence Control Structure — addresses turbulence from the perspective of engine and airframe testing. Because in-flight conditions are different from the ground within which engines are typically tested, Boeing is devising a method of recreating altitude conditions on the ground when testing, so that the results more accurately reflect real-world conditions.
Weather Sensing And Prediction
Modern weather and radar networks are effective at keeping track of possible turbulence spots, but their accuracy can be limited. Additionally, some regions of the world are not as well covered by weather tracking systems, making them more uncertain areas for turbulence events. To counter this, Boeing is developing an electromagnetic-based system that would integrate with satellite data to form a clearer picture of the skies ahead.
The System for Measuring Turbulence Remotely would measure changes in electromagnetic signals to make readings of the weather conditions ahead. Importantly, it will filter out other influences that can impact sensors, such as aircraft movement and ionospheric interference. This will allow pilots and ground teams to develop an accurate picture of potential areas of disturbance, forming 3D models that can be fed back to pilot monitors.
Once collected, data would also be shared on a network in real-time to enable other aircraft and air traffic control centers in the region to benefit from advanced turbulence warnings. Over time, this technology has the potential to grow into a global network of weather prediction that would prove a key asset in the battle against turbulence. Presently, pilots can rely heavily on pilot reports (PIREPS) for local turbulence information, but this can be highly unreliable.
Engine Control Testing
Aircraft manufacturers subject their planes to rigorous ground testing before they are certified for flight. It is during these ground tests that many of an aircraft’s flaws are uncovered and fixed. But as ground testing cannot accurately replicate the conditions of flight at higher altitudes, data gathered during tests is not as precise as it could be.
To counter this, Boeing is exploring what it calls the Inflow Turbulence Control Structure, which will facilitate more realistic airflow conditions during static testing. This system utilizes a spherical geodesic dome that smoothens air entering the engine intake — the dome has perforated stainless steel sheets and aluminium honeycomb panels that recreate the more uniform air stream experienced in flight.
This will ultimately allow manufacturers to develop engines and aircraft that are better equipped to withstand turbulence through higher testing fidelity. Insights obtained from more accurate testing also have ramifications beyond turbulence, allowing engineers to design more efficient and quieter aircraft.
Other Turbulence Busting Initiatives
Much like the drive towards more sustainable technology, Boeing isn’t the only industry player exploring new technologies. For example, Airbus is devising a collaborative network that will improve the level of turbulence awareness worldwide, giving pilots vital minutes to prepare their aircraft.
Using onboard sensors on aircraft, its Turbulence EDR (Eddy Dissipation Rate) system will identify areas of turbulence and send EDR reports over ACARS, helping to map out a global picture of weather conditions. As explained by Airbus,
“Users see EDR reporting or real-time turbulence reporting as a paradigm shift towards data-driven turbulence mitigation. The EDR objective intensity value associated with a precise 4D location (longitude, latitude, time and altitude) constitutes the value proposition of the dataset when compared to the usual way of reporting turbulence (PIREPs).”
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also seeing a sharp rise to prominence in the aviation industry, particularly in customer service and weather prediction. One AI-based turbulence system that is being developed by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and BlueWX Company Limited has demonstrated an impressive 86% successful detection rate, incorporating elements of deep learning and human feedback to deliver real-time turbulence forecasts.
Why Turbulence Detection Matters
Modern systems of weather monitoring are generally quite good at detecting adverse weather patterns and likely turbulence hotspots, but some forms of turbulence — particularly clear air turbulence (CAT) — are still notoriously difficult to keep tabs on. The most important reason to enhance turbulence detection is safety, as severe turbulence events can be very dangerous for passengers and crew.
According to the NTSB, over one-third of all scheduled commercial air accidents between 2009 and 2018 were the result of turbulence. ICAO has also revealed that around 75% of all serious injuries in 2024 happened due to turbulence. While deaths are very rare, passengers and crew can still incur serious injuries, ranging from broken bones to head trauma. With turbulence predicted to be more common in the years ahead due to changing climate conditions, it becomes even more important to improve our detection systems.
There are other operational reasons for better detection too, particularly regarding route choice and fuel efficiency. Diverting the course of an aircraft due to turbulence can be expensive for an airline and incur more delays. Smarter detection systems will ultimately enable pilots to make better navigation decisions and reduce costs and delays.
How To Deal With Turbulence
As a passenger on a commercial flight, there’s always the small chance your flight will run into turbulence. Most experiences will be relatively mild, if a little unnerving, but there is the rarer chance of it falling under the category of severe. If pilots have foreknowledge of possible turbulence ahead, they will switch on the seatbelt signs to ensure all passengers are strapped up.
Passengers should also ensure any loose items, such as personal devices, books or beverages, are safely stowed away. One of the main causes of injury in turbulence is cabin debris, which can scatter across the cabin when the aircraft shakes or drops altitude.
If you are prone to motion sickness, it can be a smart idea to sit somewhere near the middle of the aircraft, rather than at the back or front, as the middle section sees less movement than the front or back. Larger aircraft types are also more robust against the impact of turbulence, so a plane like an Airbus A380 or Boeing 777 will handle turbulence more effectively than a narrowbody.
Recent Turbulence Incidents
There have been several severe turbulence incidents in recent months, many involving CAT and causing significant injuries to passengers. For example, in July 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam ran into turbulence over the US, leading to 25 hospitalizations and scores more minor injuries.
Just a month later, an Air France A320 encountered severe turbulence during its descent, injuring five onboard, while an IndiGo flight earlier in the summer was forced to make an emergency landing after flying into hail and turbulence. These events demonstrate a rise in injuries due to turbulence, with atmospheric scientist Professor Paul Williams telling the BBC that there will likely be “a doubling or tripling in the amount of severe turbulence around the world in the next few decades.”
In May 2024, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced the first turbulence-related death in over 25 years when an elderly man passed away after suffering a heart attack during severe turbulence. The last documented death due to turbulence on a commercial flight reportedly occurred on a United Airlines flight back in 1997.
