A Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence, resulting in 25 passengers being injured and causing the plane to divert to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as reported by the airline. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-900 with a capacity of over 250 passengers, made a safe landing at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Upon arrival, airport emergency services and medical personnel were on standby to assist. The 25 passengers requiring medical attention were transported to local hospitals for assessment and treatment, according to the airline.
A witness onboard the flight, Leann Clement-Nash, described a chaotic scene where individuals not wearing seat belts were tossed around the cabin. She recounted how passengers and items were propelled upward towards the ceiling before crashing back down, causing injuries and panic among travelers.
Delta expressed gratitude for the swift response of all emergency teams involved in managing the situation. While incidents of severe injuries due to turbulence during flights are uncommon, experts suggest they could be on the rise due to changing weather patterns influenced by climate change.
In a tragic incident in May 2024, a man lost his life when a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence, marking the first turbulence-related fatality on a major airline in many years.