Narrative:

Over 1 hour delay in area due to thunderstorm in vicinity. Numerous aircraft holding. Traversing from 1 hold point to enter second hold point; captain flying. Captain radar on. Autoplt on. Level FL370. Smooth conditions. Many buildups in vicinity. Aircraft entered severe updraft/climb. Gained 350 ft. Kicked autoplt off. Captain took manual control. Aircraft entered aggressive descent down to 300 ft low (FL367) +350/-300. No radar return on scope. Event lasted approximately 10-15 seconds. ATC made radio call that said 'maintain FL370.' I rogered it. No further discussion. 3 injuries reported; 2 flight attendants; 1 passenger. Information was relayed to operations after the condition of the cabin was ascertained and supervisors met aircraft at arrival gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FO RPTS ENCOUNTERING MODERATE TURB AT FL370 WHILE HOLDING; CAUSING INJURIES TO 2 FLT ATTENDANTS AND 1 PAX.

Narrative: OVER 1 HR DELAY IN AREA DUE TO TSTM IN VICINITY. NUMEROUS ACFT HOLDING. TRAVERSING FROM 1 HOLD POINT TO ENTER SECOND HOLD POINT; CAPT FLYING. CAPT RADAR ON. AUTOPLT ON. LEVEL FL370. SMOOTH CONDITIONS. MANY BUILDUPS IN VICINITY. ACFT ENTERED SEVERE UPDRAFT/CLB. GAINED 350 FT. KICKED AUTOPLT OFF. CAPT TOOK MANUAL CTL. ACFT ENTERED AGGRESSIVE DSCNT DOWN TO 300 FT LOW (FL367) +350/-300. NO RADAR RETURN ON SCOPE. EVENT LASTED APPROX 10-15 SECONDS. ATC MADE RADIO CALL THAT SAID 'MAINTAIN FL370.' I ROGERED IT. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. 3 INJURIES RPTED; 2 FLT ATTENDANTS; 1 PAX. INFO WAS RELAYED TO OPS AFTER THE CONDITION OF THE CABIN WAS ASCERTAINED AND SUPVRS MET ACFT AT ARR GATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.