Eight people have been hospitalized after severe turbulence forced an Avianca flight to make an emergency landing in Miami.
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The incident occurred during the early hours of Friday, October 9, when the aircraft was traveling from Medellin, Colombia, to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
Although the plane landed safely, the turbulence left several people injured, with emergency responders transporting "multiple patients" to a nearby hospital.
Plane Turbulence Leaves Eight Hospitalized
Several passengers reportedly suffered injuries, with some seen holding ice packs against their heads. Another passenger wore a neck brace, while emergency responders transported a flight attendant to the hospital on a gurney.
"I don't want to go out. I only want to go back home," an unidentified female passenger on the plane said. "What I can tell you is you value your life so much when something like that happens."
Avianca subsequently confirmed that flight AV042 "encountered unexpected turbulence during its journey," prompting the crew to divert to Miami as a precaution.
The airline reported that the turbulence affected six passengers and three cabin crew members.
"Upon arrival, Avianca's team and airport medical services activated the appropriate protocols to provide immediate care," the airline said in a statement.
"For the remaining passengers, Avianca's airport team has made the necessary arrangements to continue their travel to New York, providing assistance and support throughout the process."
Severe Turbulence Raises Concerns Over Passenger Safety
In its statement, Avianca reiterated that "the safety of our customers and employees is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations."
The emergency landing came amid Hurricane Isaias affecting parts of the United States, with the storm reportedly intensifying to Category 3 strength.
"Serious injuries from in-flight turbulence are rare, but scientists say they may be becoming more common as the climate crisis alters the jet stream," a recent report from The Guardian reads.
"The International Air Transport Association said the number of reports it received about turbulence incidents surged more than 25% last year."
In a separate incident last year, severe turbulence during a Delta Air Lines flight over Wyoming sent 24 people to the hospital.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the turbulence violently threw passengers and flight attendants against the ceiling, cracking interior panels before sending them back toward the floor.
The seatbelt sign was off when the aircraft encountered the turbulence, with some passengers standing and flight attendants serving drinks.
At least 20 passengers subsequently filed lawsuits against Delta, alleging that the airline could have avoided the severe weather.
