Severe Turbulence During American Airlines Flight Sends 7 Passengers To The Hospital

Seven passengers on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Milan were injured Sunday night after the plane encountered severe turbulence, and had to make an emergency landing in Newfoundland.

The plane experienced brief but severe turbulence last night a few hours after takeoff, with three flight attendants and four passengers ending up injured in the process. Passengers told CBC News that those who were hurt were at the back of the plane, and that some of the attendants were standing when the turbulence hit.

“It rolled on its side, everything went flying. It was pretty intense,” one passenger told CBC News, adding that the plane dropped twice. “I really thought that was it.”

Another passenger said some people passed out from the turbulence, and others needed oxygen masks.

The plane landed safely in St. John’s about an hour after the turbulence started, and was met by paramedics. The injured flight attendants and passengers were transported to hospital for further evaluation. None of the injuries are life threatening, American says.

“We are taking care of our passengers and crew, and we are working on next steps to get them safely to their destination,” American Airlines said in a statement. Its website says the flight should leave St. John’s for Milan at around 8 p.m. Monday night.

American Airlines flight diverted to St. John’s with injured passengers [CBC News]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist