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Turbulence Jolts American Eagle, Plunges 400 Feet
15 Oct
Summary
- American Eagle flight plunged 400 feet due to severe turbulence.
- Autopilot system disengaged automatically during the sudden drop.
- Pilots safely landed the aircraft in Key West for inspection.
On October 9, 2026, an American Eagle flight bound for Key West encountered severe atmospheric turbulence over Florida. The Embraer E175 regional jet, operating as flight AA3368, was cruising at 32,000 feet when it was unexpectedly struck by a violent pocket of air.
This severe turbulence caused the aircraft to rapidly lose 400 feet of altitude. The force of the drop was so significant that it automatically disengaged the autopilot system, compelling the pilots to take immediate manual control of the aircraft to ensure stability.
Following the incident, the flight crew reported the turbulence encounter and requested ground maintenance to inspect the aircraft upon arrival as a precautionary measure. The pilots skillfully navigated the Embraer 175 to a safe landing at Key West International Airport at 7:33 PM EDT, approximately 45 minutes behind schedule.
Upon arrival, ground crews conducted a thorough inspection of the regional jet to confirm that neither the airframe nor its systems sustained any damage, clearing the aircraft for further operations.
