Originally Posted by
PaulN
From the earlier descriptions it is clear that when this sort of turbulence happens there is a risk to those on board succumbing to injuries but is there ever any risk to the aircraft's structure or ability to stay in the air? Genuine question - I have no understanding of aerodynamics but if I experienced this I would be extremely nervous!
Whenever anything like this happens, I check in with a friend who's ex-Boeing. According to him, in a situation like this, the plane itself is safe as houses. They get tested to within an inch of their lives. When they attach the wing to the fuselage, for instance, they do (or at least did in his time) a test behind the Everett factory - they take the edge of the wing and pull it up, all the way to the breaking point. It can take a huge amount of stress.
All best wishes to the flight crew.