Six injured after Eurowings A320 encounters wake turbulence from Emirates A380

Six people were injured after a Eurowings Airbus A320 registered D-AEWS encountered severe wake turbulence while cruising over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 30 May, forcing the aircraft into a sudden loss of altitude.

Eurowings flight EW635 was operating from Rhodes, Greece, to Cologne, Germany, with 157 passengers on board when it encountered turbulence at 36,000 feet. According to reports, the aircraft briefly descended at a rate of up to 3,000 feet per minute before the crew regained full control.

The turbulence was attributed to the wake generated by an Emirates Airbus A380 registered A6-EUF flying approximately 7.6 nautical miles (14 kilometres) ahead at a higher altitude. The A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, was operating flight EK1 from Dubai to London Heathrow.

Five passengers and one cabin crew member sustained minor injuries. The injured flight attendant was reportedly thrown against the cabin ceiling during the event. Medical personnel met the aircraft upon its arrival in Cologne and treated those affected.

Wake turbulence consists of powerful air vortices created by aircraft wings as they generate lift. While air traffic controllers maintained the required minimum separation between the two aircraft, investigators are examining how the Eurowings aircraft was still affected by the A380’s wake.

Eurowings confirmed the incident, describing it as “brief wake turbulence” and expressing regret for the injuries. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation has been notified and is expected to cooperate with authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the occurrence took place.

The incident highlights the significant wake turbulence that can be generated by very large aircraft such as the Airbus A380, even when standard separation requirements are observed.