Narrative:

Air carrier X checked in on frequency; asking for deviations and direct tadpo (the crossing fix into cuban airspace). I told him unable direct tadpo but to deviate right then direct mth when able; I was giving the aircraft mth because of the special interest flight requirements to return them to their route as soon as possible. Air carrier X told me that he had weather and needed tadpo; I then told him to deviate right for the weather and go to mth and that there was no known precipitation south of mth. The pilot rogered that clearance. Air carrier X continued to fly and not deviate and flew directly through the weather that he had been cleared to deviate around. The flight then reported a loss of 500 ft and 'heavy' turbulence. We then asked if it was moderate; severe; or extreme. The pilot responded with extreme. Pilot was asked if there was any damage to the airplane or injury to passengers. Pilot replied with a negative. I am not 100% certain if I called the weather to the pilot; but assumed that since he was saying he needed to deviate that he was going around it. The plane encountered the weather just as I was being removed from the sector to allow for training of another controller. I think the briefing was a distraction. I think there may have been some communication/language issues with the air carrier X pilot and may have not understood I was giving him deviations and just needed him to return to course sooner than he requested. I also think I could have done a better job calling the weather to the pilot especially when I didn't see the turn. I also will make sure that all things are taken care of prior to giving a position relief briefing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMA Controller described an 'Extreme' turbulence encounter experienced by a foreign air carrier after being authorized to deviate; the Controller listing language barriers and lack of weather information as contributory.

Narrative: Air Carrier X checked in on frequency; asking for deviations and direct TADPO (the crossing fix into Cuban airspace). I told him unable direct TADPO but to deviate right then direct MTH when able; I was giving the aircraft MTH because of the Special Interest Flight requirements to return them to their route as soon as possible. Air Carrier X told me that he had weather and needed TADPO; I then told him to deviate right for the weather and go to MTH and that there was no known precipitation south of MTH. The pilot rogered that clearance. Air Carrier X continued to fly and not deviate and flew directly through the weather that he had been cleared to deviate around. The flight then reported a loss of 500 FT and 'Heavy' turbulence. We then asked if it was Moderate; Severe; or Extreme. The pilot responded with Extreme. Pilot was asked if there was any damage to the airplane or injury to passengers. Pilot replied with a negative. I am not 100% certain if I called the weather to the pilot; but assumed that since he was saying he needed to deviate that he was going around it. The plane encountered the weather just as I was being removed from the sector to allow for training of another Controller. I think the briefing was a distraction. I think there may have been some communication/language issues with the Air Carrier X pilot and may have not understood I was giving him deviations and just needed him to return to course sooner than he requested. I also think I could have done a better job calling the weather to the pilot especially when I didn't see the turn. I also will make sure that all things are taken care of prior to giving a position relief briefing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.