Bohrer & Lukeman Investigating Avianca Flight AV042: Severe Turbulence or Possible Aircraft Computer Malfunction?

NEW YORK | October 9, 2026

The New York aviation accident lawfirm Bohrer & Lukeman, PLLC has launched an investigation into the recent in-flight severe turbulence event involving Avianca Flight AV042, an Airbus A320 traveling from Medellín, Colombia, to New York’s JFK International Airport. The aircraft reportedly experienced a sudden, unexpected descent, injuring multiple passengers, some of them seriously, and forcing the flight to divert to Miami where many of the injured were met by ambulances and taken to local hospitals for treatment.

While early reports suggest severe turbulence, we are looking into whether a computer malfunction problem with the Airbus’ flight-control computer system may have played a role.

This is an important question because our firm is currently handling claims involving JetBlue Flight 1230 (October 30, 2025), another Airbus A320 that experienced a sudden, unexpected nose-down movement, injuring passengers and forcing an emergency landing. That incident raised serious concerns about the aircraft’s flight-control software and launched a worldwide temporary grounding of all such aircraft until the software issue was resolved.

Could something similar have happened aboard the Avianca flight? That is one of the questions we are seeking to answer.

Our firm has 35 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured airline passengers and their families. We have taken on major domestic and international airlines and handled cases involving severe turbulence, aircraft accidents, mechanical failures, and serious in-flight injuries.

Our experience includes successfully handling claims arising from JetBlue Flight 1256 (September 25, 2023) and Turkish Airlines Flight TK01 (March 9, 2019), both involving severe turbulence that left passengers injured.

Our firm has also created the law involving the rights of international commercial airline passengers in the landmark decision of Magan v. Lufthansa, where we achieved a successful trial verdict and an appellate decision on behalf of the injured passenger.

Led by aviation attorney Abram I. (Abe) Bohrer, our firm has represented injured passengers and their families in courts throughout the United States. We understand that when passengers are injured during a flight, they deserve answers about what happened, why it happened, and whether it could have been prevented.

Our approach has always been to thoroughly investigate aviation incidents, examine all possible causes, work with qualified aviation experts when necessary, and fight to hold responsible parties accountable by obtaining full and fair compensation for our clients.

The cause of the Avianca incident has not yet been established. We will continue examining the available information and monitor all government and manufacturer investigations to determine whether this was a case of severe turbulence or whether an aircraft system malfunction may have contributed.