A Delta Air Lines flight bound from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence, resulting in 25 passengers needing medical attention and prompting a diversion to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as confirmed by the airline. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-900 with a capacity of over 250 passengers, safely landed at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Upon arrival, airport emergency services and paramedics were on hand to assist. The 25 affected passengers were subsequently transported to hospitals for assessment and treatment, according to the airline.
An eyewitness aboard the flight recounted the chaotic scene, mentioning that individuals without seat belts were thrown around the cabin, hitting the ceiling and falling to the floor. The passenger, identified as Leann Clement-Nash, described how even the service carts were jolted upwards and then crashed down, causing injuries and instilling fear among the passengers.
Delta expressed gratitude towards all the emergency responders who aided in the situation. It is noted that while severe injuries from turbulence during flights are infrequent, there is growing concern among scientists that such incidents could become more frequent due to shifts in the jet stream caused by climate change.
In a separate incident, a tragic occurrence took place in May 2024 when a man lost his life due to severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight, marking the first turbulence-related fatality on a major airline in several decades.
