Narrative:

Flight encountered unexpected turbulence. Flight attendant was slightly injured in the turbulence. First officer was making a PA to the passenger concerning our arrival into syr. Information given concerned syr WX, expected arrival time, and a statement about turbulence we expected in the syr area. It was at that time that we encountered steady moderate turbulence. Altitude at this time was about 7000-8000 ft. Surface winds in syr were approximately 20 KTS. The turbulence we encountered up at our higher altitude was unexpected. During this PA, while the flight attendant was getting the cabin secure, the flight attendant was tossed around by the turbulence. The first officer and I expected some turbulence at much lower altitudes and not of the severity we encountered. The turbulence at the altitude we first encountered it was difficult if not impossible to predict. I feel sorry for the flight attendant and her injuries, but if there was something the first officer and I could have done to help avoid the situation, it would have been done. Unexpected turbulence or any unexpected situation from the norm can be a potential problem or hazard for all on board.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CABIN ATTENDANT BEHAVIOR PERSONAL INJURY DURING DSCNT IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: FLT ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED TURB. FLT ATTENDANT WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THE TURB. FO WAS MAKING A PA TO THE PAX CONCERNING OUR ARR INTO SYR. INFO GIVEN CONCERNED SYR WX, EXPECTED ARR TIME, AND A STATEMENT ABOUT TURB WE EXPECTED IN THE SYR AREA. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT WE ENCOUNTERED STEADY MODERATE TURB. ALT AT THIS TIME WAS ABOUT 7000-8000 FT. SURFACE WINDS IN SYR WERE APPROX 20 KTS. THE TURB WE ENCOUNTERED UP AT OUR HIGHER ALT WAS UNEXPECTED. DURING THIS PA, WHILE THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS GETTING THE CABIN SECURE, THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS TOSSED AROUND BY THE TURB. THE FO AND I EXPECTED SOME TURB AT MUCH LOWER ALTS AND NOT OF THE SEVERITY WE ENCOUNTERED. THE TURB AT THE ALT WE FIRST ENCOUNTERED IT WAS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE FLT ATTENDANT AND HER INJURIES, BUT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THE FO AND I COULD HAVE DONE TO HELP AVOID THE SIT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. UNEXPECTED TURB OR ANY UNEXPECTED SIT FROM THE NORM CAN BE A POTENTIAL PROB OR HAZARD FOR ALL ON BOARD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.