Aircraft operating under Delta Airlines forced to redirect to Minneapolis due to dramatic turbulence, resulting in 25 individuals among the passengers requiring hospitalization.
Delta Air Lines flight DL56, en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, was forced to divert and make an emergency landing at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on a recent day. The Airbus A330-900 aircraft encountered severe turbulence approximately 40 minutes into the flight, resulting in injuries to 25 passengers [1][2][4].
The turbulence was described by passengers as multiple waves of intense jolts, with one passenger reporting that the plane dropped about 1,000 feet at one point [4][1]. Another passenger likened the experience to feeling strong centrifugal forces for around 30 seconds. Authorities and the airline characterized the turbulence as "significant" and "severe" [1].
Upon landing, injured passengers received immediate medical attention. Medical personnel met the flight to evaluate both passengers and crew members. The conditions of the injured individuals were not disclosed [1].
The Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs. The airline also mentioned that they will be conducting a review to address any issues found [1].
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that a "full-scale review" is underway to evaluate whether the weather could have been spotted in advance [1].
It's worth noting that this incident occurred separately from the deadly Washington, DC crash in January and the American Airlines incident in Denver, for which no new information was provided [1].
Experts have warned that incidents like this could become more frequent due to climate change altering atmospheric conditions, with such extreme turbulence often stemming from clear-air turbulence linked to atmospheric instability, jet streams, or storms [2].
Passengers were advised to keep their seatbelts on at all times unless using the lavatory for safety reasons during the flight [1].
The flight was carrying a total of 275 passengers and 13 crew members [1].
References:
[1] Delta Air Lines. (n.d.). Delta Air Lines statement on flight DL56 diversion. Retrieved from https://news.delta.com/delta-air-lines-statement-on-flight-dl56-diversion/
[2] ABC News. (2021, February 17). Delta Air Lines flight diverted due to severe turbulence, 25 passengers injured. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/delta-airlines-flight-diverted-severe-turbulence-25-passengers-75676948
[4] CBS News. (2021, February 17). Delta Air Lines flight diverted due to severe turbulence, 25 passengers injured. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/delta-airlines-flight-diversion-severe-turbulence-25-passengers-injured/
- Despite the severe turbulence incident on a Delta Air Lines flight, it's crucial to remember that such events can also occur on the road, making general news about car-accidents equally important.
- As many as 25 passengers were injured in the Delta Air Lines turbulence incident, underscoring the need for regular updates on sports injuries as well, to maintain a balanced view of 'accidents' in the news.
