Can turbulence make a plane crash?
The short answer for airliners, the evidence behind it, and the one thing that actually matters for your safety in rough air.
In this article · 6 sections
The short answer
For airliners, turbulence is built into the design. It's uncomfortable, sometimes very much so, but it's not what keeps aviation safety experts up at night. The thing they focus on is people who aren't buckled in. Here's the evidence.
How strong the airplane is built to be
US rules for transport airplanes set the minimum flight loads the structure must handle (known as limit loads).1 On top of that, the structure must carry those loads multiplied by a factor of safety of 1.5.2 So there's a deliberate margin above the largest loads the airplane is expected to see in service.
Crews also plan around rough air where they can, using official turbulence forecasts and reports from other pilots.5 The FAA is frank that turbulence usually can't be seen and can happen unexpectedly, which is why the cabin advice below matters.4
What the accident data show
The NTSB studied turbulence on US airlines from 2009 to 2018. Turbulence-related accidents were the most common type of airline accident in that period. But the study found these accidents almost always meant serious injuries inside the cabin, usually without damage to the airplane.3 Flight attendants, who are often standing and working, were hurt most often.3
The FAA's table of serious turbulence injuries on US airlines from 2009 through 2024 lists 166 crew members and 40 passengers.4 The FAA warns that passengers who aren't wearing seat belts can be thrown from their seats without warning.4
So the realistic risk isn't the airplane coming apart. It's being thrown against the ceiling or the seat in front if you're unbuckled, or being hit by something loose.
What "severe" turbulence means
The FAA's pilot reporting scale runs light, moderate, severe and extreme.5 Even in moderate turbulence, the official description says "the aircraft remains in positive control at all times"; inside, you feel definite strain against your seat belt and walking is difficult.5 Severe turbulence is when unsecured objects are tossed about and people are forced violently against their belts.5 That's exactly why the belt matters.
If you'd like to know what the different levels feel like, read what "moderate turbulence" actually means.
The one habit that protects you
Keep your seat belt buckled at all times when you're seated, even when the sign is off. Follow your airline's carry-on rules, and put children under 2 in a government-approved child seat or device.4
With your belt on, turbulence goes back to being what it is for the airplane: bumpy, not dangerous.
Keep reading
- Turbulence: uncomfortable, but not dangerous to the airplane
- Why do planes suddenly drop? ("air pockets")
- Check the official turbulence outlook for your route
Quick answers
Can turbulence break an airplane's wings?
US rules require airliner structures to carry their maximum expected flight loads multiplied by a 1.5 factor of safety. The NTSB found that turbulence accidents on US airlines mostly caused cabin injuries with no damage to the aircraft.
What is the real danger of turbulence?
Injuries inside the cabin. The FAA warns that passengers who are not wearing seat belts can be thrown from their seats without warning, and flight attendants are the people most often hurt.
What should I do during turbulence?
The FAA's advice is to keep your seat belt buckled at all times when seated, follow your airline's carry-on rules, and put children under 2 in a government-approved child seat.
Do pilots know turbulence is coming?
Often, but not always. Pilots use official forecasts and reports from other aircraft to plan around rough air, but turbulence is usually invisible and can happen unexpectedly, even in clear skies.