Probable cause
the flight attendant's inadvertent trip and fall over a passenger bag that was in the aisle.
NTSB analysis
On March 4, 2014, about 2300 Pacific standard time, a flight attendant (FA) on Delta Air Lines flight 1248, a Boeing 737-900ER, N809DN, tripped over a passenger's bag while the passengers were boarding at San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California.
The captain stated that he and the first officer were in the cockpit performing preflight duties as passengers were boarding. He said he heard a crash and looked back and saw that the lead FA had tripped over a passenger bag.
The lead FA stated that she was carrying a tray with pre-departure drinks in the First Class cabin when she tripped over a passenger's bag that was in the aisle. She stated that the tray had obscured her view of the floor. The FA was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken arm.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA14CA090 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 5, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Nearest airport
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Boeing 737 - 932ER
- N-number
- N809DN
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2013
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.