Air Transat’s A321 Hit By Ethiopian A350 Wake Turbulence, Two Flight Attendants Injured

Published on August 7, 2025 |

By: TTW News Desk

An unsettling incident occurred successful Canadian airspace erstwhile an Air Transat Airbus A321, operating formation TS207, was struck by aftermath turbulence from an Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350. This arena took spot astatine 34,000 feet northbound of Gander, Newfoundland, injuring 2 formation attendants. Fortunately, nary passengers were harmed, and nan craft continued its travel to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). This incident highlights nan superior risks linked to aftermath turbulence, which happens erstwhile craft create vortices that tin impact adjacent planes.

Incident Overview
The Air Transat formation was connected its measurement from Manchester (MAN) to Toronto (YYZ), pinch 196 group connected board. It encountered aftermath turbulence from an Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350-1000. The Ethiopian flight, ET501, was headed from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) and was cruising conscionable 1,000 feet supra nan Air Transat plane. The disturbance was beardown capable to incapacitate 1 of nan formation attendants, and initially, it was suspected to person travel from an Airbus A380. However, investigations by nan Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) confirmed that nan turbulence originated from nan Ethiopian A350-1000.

How Wake Turbulence Occurs
Wake turbulence forms from nan aerodynamic forces acting connected an aircraft’s wings during flight. As nan level moves done nan air, it generates lift, causing a unit quality betwixt nan precocious and little surfaces of nan wings. This results successful aerial swirling and forming vortices that way from each wingtip. These vortices tin past respective minutes, creating a consequence for different craft that alert done nan turbulent air. Larger craft nutrient stronger vortices, which is why aftermath turbulence from craft for illustration nan Airbus A350 aliases Airbus A380 tin origin important disturbances.

For smaller aircraft, specified arsenic nan Air Transat A321, nan effects of aftermath turbulence tin beryllium much dangerous. The vortices created by a ample craft for illustration nan A350 tin lead to abrupt rolling motions aliases nonaccomplishment of control, particularly if nan smaller craft is nearby. In nan lawsuit of nan Air Transat flight, nan turbulence was terrible capable to injure 2 compartment unit members. One unit personnel required contiguous first assistance onboard, though nan craft itself remained structurally sound.

Investigation and Findings
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) promptly began investigating nan incident. Initial reports suggested an Airbus A380 mightiness beryllium to blasted for nan aftermath turbulence, but further study showed that nan turbulence came from nan Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350-1000. This aircraft, registered arsenic ET-BAX, was cruising astatine 35,000 feet straight supra nan Air Transat A321.

Despite nan turbulence, nan Air Transat formation proceeded to Toronto without needing to divert. There were nary further reports of injuries among passengers, and nan formation landed safely astatine Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) connected schedule. Ethiopian Airlines’ formation ET501 besides continued its travel to Addis Ababa without immoderate issues.

The Risks of Wake Turbulence
Wake turbulence remains 1 of nan ongoing risks successful aviation, peculiarly erstwhile larger craft return disconnected aliases onshore earlier smaller ones. In engaged airspace, specified arsenic adjacent awesome airports aliases successful crowded formation corridors, craft often person to alert adjacent together. This increases nan likelihood of encountering aftermath turbulence, particularly during takeoff aliases landing.

In this incident, nan Ethiopian A350 produced vortices beardown capable to impact nan Air Transat aircraft, moreover though they were separated by 1,000 feet successful altitude. However, nan top threat occurs erstwhile craft alert astatine nan aforesaid altitude aliases adjacent to each other. In these situations, nan vortices tin origin sudden, uncontrollable rolling motions, starring to a imaginable nonaccomplishment of control. This is particularly hazardous for smaller craft pinch shorter wingspans, arsenic they are much susceptible to nan effects of turbulent air.

Wake Turbulence Protocols
To trim nan risks associated pinch aftermath turbulence, aerial postulation power (ATC) enforces strict separation rules betwixt craft of different sizes. For instance, mini craft must enactment astatine slightest 5 miles down a ample craft and up to 8 miles down a super-heavy craft for illustration nan Airbus A380. These rules purpose to create capable abstraction for nan vortices to dissipate earlier different craft enters nan disturbed air.

Pilots besides person training to admit nan signs of aftermath turbulence and study champion practices for avoiding it. When landing down a larger aircraft, they are told to stay supra its attack way and onshore beyond its touchdown point. When departing down a larger aircraft, they are advised to rotate earlier nan preceding aircraft’s rotation constituent and climb supra its way to debar entering nan vortices.

Implications for Aviation Safety
This aftermath turbulence incident involving Ethiopian Airlines and Air Transat highlights nan ongoing issues of managing aerial postulation successful engaged corridors. As aerial postulation increases and much craft return to nan skies, nan imaginable for turbulence-related incidents besides rises. Despite advances successful craft creation and aerial postulation management, aftermath turbulence remains a cardinal facet successful aviation safety.

The arena emphasizes nan request for continued training for some pilots and aerial postulation controllers to guarantee they understand nan risks and adhere to champion practices to minimize them. As craft turn larger and airports go busier, it will beryllium progressively important for nan aviation manufacture to instrumentality and enforce strict aftermath turbulence guidance protocols.

Conclusion
The aftermath turbulence incident betwixt Ethiopian Airlines and Air Transat serves arsenic a reminder of nan ongoing risks successful aviation, particularly erstwhile ample craft create disturbances that tin effect smaller planes. While nary passengers suffered injuries, 2 formation attendants were hurt, and nan incident could person been overmuch worse without a timely consequence and adherence to aviation information protocols.

As nan aviation manufacture evolves, it is important for some pilots and aerial postulation controllers to enactment alert to aftermath turbulence and travel champion practices to trim risks. By doing so, nan manufacture tin proceed to uphold its information grounds and protect passengers and unit alike.

(Source: Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Aviation Herald, Aero Icarus, TSB Canada, Aviation Safety Reporting System)