A Eurowings Airbus A320 flying from Rhodes to Cologne encountered severe turbulence over Bosnia and Herzegovina, reportedly caused by the wake turbulence of an Emirates Airbus A380 flying ahead of it. The incident left five people injured onboard.
According to reports, the A320 had been cleared to climb from FL360 to FL380 while following the Emirates A380 operating from Dubai to London Heathrow. During the climb, the aircraft reportedly encountered strong turbulence and wake effects from the superjumbo, forcing pilots to stop the climb and descend back to FL360.
Four passengers and one cabin crew member sustained minor injuries during the incident. Reports state that the flight attendant was thrown against the cabin ceiling due to the sudden turbulence. Despite the situation, the flight continued safely to Cologne, where medical teams met the aircraft upon arrival.
Investigators have secured the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder as part of the ongoing investigation. Under ICAO recommendations, aircraft following an Airbus A380 are required to maintain increased separation distances because of the powerful wake turbulence generated by the superjumbo.