Two hours into the flight, at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m), the plane received reports of severe clear-air turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was turned on.

[2] The plane turned around and landed safely back in Tokyo, but one passenger, a 32-year-old Japanese woman, died.

[7] At cruising altitude, the flight initially encountered enough turbulence for the captain to turn on the "fasten seat belt" sign.

[7] After the accident, a Japanese woman who had her belt unfastened was found lying unconscious and bleeding heavily in the aisle.

Despite quick resuscitation efforts by injured flight attendants and a passenger doctor, she was soon pronounced dead.

[7][6] As a result of the accident, United Airlines released a bulletin entitled Turbulence Encounter and Passenger Fatality which went into detail on the events of Flight 826 and emphasized the importance of effective communication.

[8] United Airlines had previously intended to sell the aging aircraft to a salvage company in early 1998.