Delta Air Lines flight DL56 encountered severe turbulence on July 30, while en route from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Amsterdam, Netherlands. The aircraft was carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members.
The Airbus A330-900 diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota and landed safely after nearly 2.5 hours.
Medical personnel were present at the airport to assess the condition of the passengers and crew. 25 people, including 7 crew members, required hospitalization for "evaluation and care".
Delta Air Lines confirmed that all those hospitalized were discharged on July 31. Passengers continued their journey from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Amsterdam on a special flight later that evening.
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A Delta Air Lines aircraft lands at John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2024. Photo: AFP |
A Delta Air Lines aircraft lands at John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2024. Photo: AFP
Passenger Leeann Clement-Nash reported that the turbulence hit shortly after dinner service began.
"There was no warning. It was a very strong and sudden jolt. Those who weren't wearing seatbelts hit their heads on the ceiling multiple times and fell to the floor. The food carts also slammed down and spilled, injuring several people. It happened repeatedly, which was really scary," she said.
According to Clement-Nash, glass bottles and cell phones flew around the cabin. "I have to say, the flight attendants were very calm, well-trained, and reacted quickly," she added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
Air turbulence is often difficult to predict and can occur even in clear weather conditions. It typically occurs at altitudes around 4,500 meters.
According to a 2021 study by the NTSB, turbulence-related incidents are the most common type of aviation accident. The NTSB reported that one-third of the accidents they recorded were related to turbulence, many causing serious injuries but not damaging the aircraft.
Huyen Le (According to Hill, AP, ABC News)
