SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – Several passengers on a Delta flight traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam were hurt on Wednesday due to intense turbulence. This incident prompted the flight to be rerouted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Twenty-five people were sent to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment after the aircraft landed at MSP at approximately 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.
“They hit the ceiling and then fell to the ground,” recounted Leann Clement-Nash. “The carts also struck the ceiling before crashing down, causing injuries. It was terrifying as this happened multiple times.”
“A man seated two spots away from me suffered a serious cut on his head,” shared passenger Adam Nash. “I was injured by my laptop, hurting my ribs in the process and causing some damage. I went to the hospital afterward.”
Clement-Nash mentioned that it was challenging to remember specific details of the event, but she recalled hearing that the plane “ascended about 500 feet and then plunged 1,500 feet” during the turbulence.
“So there was a point where we were weightless,” she said.
Medical personnel were waiting to meet the flight when it arrived to evaluate both passengers and crew, according to the airline.
“We appreciate the assistance of all emergency personnel involved,” stated Delta in a release. “Ensuring safety is our top priority, and our Delta Care Team is actively assisting customers to meet their immediate needs.”
While serious injuries due to turbulence during flights are uncommon, researchers suggest they might be increasing in frequency as climate change impacts the jet stream.
A man was killed when a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence in May 2024, the first person to die from turbulence on a major airline in several decades.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
