Delta Flight Turbulence Injures 25, Emergency Landing Ensues/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A Delta Air Lines flight en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to divert to Minneapolis after encountering severe turbulence. The incident resulted in 25 passengers being hospitalized. The episode highlights increasing turbulence risks linked to climate change.
Delta Flight Turbulence Quick Looks
- Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam diverted midair
- Severe turbulence prompted emergency landing in Minneapolis
- 25 passengers hospitalized after the aircraft landed safely
- Event occurred around 7:45 p.m. local time Wednesday
- Delta confirmed medical teams met the plane on landing
- Serious turbulence injuries remain uncommon, but increasing
- Experts link turbulence frequency to jet stream changes from climate change
- Reignites concerns following deadly 2024 Singapore Airlines turbulence incident
Deep Look: Delta Flight Turbulence Injures 25, Prompts Emergency Landing
A routine transatlantic flight turned into a medical emergency when a Delta Air Lines aircraft traveling from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Amsterdam encountered unexpected and severe turbulence mid-flight. The chaos in the cabin forced pilots to make an emergency diversion to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to a statement from Delta, the turbulence was intense enough to injure multiple passengers. Emergency crews, including the airport’s fire department and paramedics, were already on standby by the time the plane touched down. Following evaluation, 25 individuals were transported to local hospitals for further medical attention.
Although the airline did not disclose the specific nature of the injuries, it stressed that the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew remain its top priority. Flight attendants onboard acted swiftly to assist those affected, and an internal investigation is expected to follow.
While in-flight turbulence is a well-known aviation hazard, serious injuries stemming from it are relatively rare. However, aviation safety experts and atmospheric scientists warn that turbulence may be growing more frequent and intense due to shifts in global climate patterns. Changes in the jet stream—narrow bands of fast-flowing air in the upper atmosphere—are believed to be contributing to more frequent clear-air turbulence, a type difficult to detect in advance.
This latest incident underscores a trend already observed by meteorologists and airline safety regulators. The incident comes just over a year after a Singapore Airlines flight experienced extreme turbulence in May 2024, resulting in the tragic death of one passenger and injuries to dozens of others. That was the first turbulence-related fatality on a major international flight in several decades and has since prompted a renewed global focus on turbulence detection and passenger safety measures.
Airlines globally are investing in technology upgrades and pilot training to respond more effectively to turbulence events. Still, experts caution that passengers should always wear seatbelts while seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off, as turbulence can strike without warning.
Delta Air Lines has yet to confirm whether the flight continued its journey after the medical evaluations or if passengers were rerouted. The aircraft involved is undergoing a routine post-incident safety inspection. No damage to the aircraft has been reported so far.
Passengers onboard took to social media to describe the experience as terrifying, with some saying they were jolted out of their seats. Others praised the professionalism of the crew and the emergency response teams awaiting them in Minneapolis.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet released an official report on the incident, but an investigation into the exact causes and nature of the turbulence is likely underway.
This incident serves as another stark reminder of the growing unpredictability of air travel in a warming world. While flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation, the aviation industry is being increasingly challenged to adapt to the atmospheric consequences of climate change.
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