At least eight injured after severe turbulence forces Miami emergency landing
Paramedics evaluated multiple passengers following an emergency landing in Miami early Friday. An international commercial flight encountered severe turbulence and diverted to the airport. The Airbus A320 was traveling to New York from Medellin, Colombia.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said one person went to a trauma center with severe injuries. Seven other travelers rode ambulances to area medical centers.
The aircraft landed in Miami shortly past 3 a.m. Friday. Avianca said nine people needed care at a medical facility. That count included three crew members and six passengers.
Avianca said uninjured travelers flew to New York on Friday morning. The airline said “the safety of our customers and employees is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations.”
Serious injuries from turbulence remain rare. Scientists say such events may happen more often because climate change alters the jet stream. The International Air Transport Association said turbulence incident reports rose over 25% last year.
Last summer, 24 people required hospital treatment on a Delta Air Lines flight over Wyoming. The National Transportation Safety Board said travelers hit the ceiling hard enough to crack panels. The seat belt sign was off during that incident.
At least 20 passengers sued Delta. The lawsuits claim the company could have avoided the severe weather.
Federal aviation regulators examine commercial flights to inspect cabin safety rules and storm warning procedures. Safety agencies review flight data recorders following unexpected turbulence events. The teams determine whether flight crews followed standard safety guidelines.
The FAA recommends that passengers stay buckled whenever possible to protect against unexpected turbulence in Miami.
