On Wednesday, July 30th, a Delta Air Lines international flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence mid-flight and was forced to divert to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. A total of 25 people onboard, including passengers and crew members, were sent to hospitals for medical treatment.
According to Delta Air Lines, the flight, with the flight number DL56, was operated with an Airbus A330-900 wide-body aircraft and eventually landed safely at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport around 7:45 p.m. local time. Firefighters and emergency personnel boarded the aircraft immediately to assist and transport the 25 individuals to nearby hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
Passenger Leann Clement-Nash described the situation during an interview with ABC News, stating, “People not wearing seatbelts were thrown to the ceiling and then came crashing down. Carts flew and hit people; such impacts occurred several times, it was really terrifying.”
Minneapolis airport authorities mentioned that emergency response personnel were already on standby when the aircraft landed, and they promptly entered the cabin to provide urgent assistance. The exact number of passengers onboard the flight has not been disclosed. According to Airbus data, the A330-900 can accommodate up to 465 individuals.
Delta Air Lines stated, “Safety is our top priority. Our Care Team is in direct contact with passengers, assisting with their various needs.” The airline also expressed gratitude towards the emergency responders who aided in the rescue efforts.
While incidents of severe turbulence causing significant injuries during flights are uncommon, aviation experts point out that in recent years, changes in the jet stream at high altitudes have become more intense, leading to a rise in similar events.
In May 2024, a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence resulting in one fatality, marking the first passenger death due to turbulence on a major commercial airline flight in decades.
Similar accidents have occurred earlier this year in March. A SkyWest flight operated by United Airlines encountered turbulence flying from Missouri to Houston, Texas, forcing an emergency landing in Waco and causing minor injuries to five individuals.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States reminds passengers that regardless of how smooth a flight may seem, always fastening seatbelts during flight is the most effective way to protect oneself.
(This article references reports from the Associated Press and CNBC)