Five people aboard an American Airlines flight were hospitalized Sunday after the airline said the aircraft experienced “unexpected turbulence.”
American Airlines Flight 1286 was en route from Miami to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, when it encountered turbulence, according to a statement given to Fox News Digital by an American Airlines representative.
The airliner, an Airbus A321, touched down safely at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at approximately 10:50 p.m. “following the crew’s report of potential injuries among the cabin crew and passengers due to the turbulence,” as stated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
A spokesperson for the airport informed Fox News Digital that RDU Fire Rescue, alongside emergency personnel from Wake and Durham Counties, attended the flight upon its arrival at around 11:30 p.m. and transported five people to a local hospital for treatment.
A passenger described seeing two flight attendants get injured, including one they said suffered a broken arm and another who was burned from hot water on the drinks cart. The passenger said a man was also knocked unconscious.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) welcome signage in Morrisville, North Carolina, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I would say it was absolutely horrific,” one passenger told the outlet. “People thought that they were going to lose their lives.”
The FAA said it will investigate the incident.
