MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A routine transatlantic flight turned into a scene of terror on Wednesday when Delta Air Lines Flight 56 from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was rocked by severe and unexpected turbulence, forcing an emergency diversion to Minneapolis and leaving 25 passengers hospitalized.
The Airbus A330, carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members, was flying over Wyoming when it encountered what one pilot reportedly described as the most severe turbulence of his career. Passengers described a sudden, violent drop, estimated to be over 1,000 feet, that sent unsecured objects and people flying through the cabin.
"There was no warning. One moment everything was calm, the next we were in a freefall," a passenger told CBS News Minnesota. "People hit the ceiling. There was screaming, crying... it was chaos."
Recognizing the severity of the situation and the number of injuries, the flight crew immediately diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Emergency services, including paramedics and the airport fire department, met the aircraft at the gate to provide immediate medical attention. Twenty-five passengers were subsequently transported to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment of injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to more serious conditions.
In a statement, Delta Air Lines confirmed the incident and expressed gratitude for the quick response of the emergency crews. "Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs," the airline stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. While turbulence is a known, if rare, cause of injuries on flights, the severity of this event has drawn significant attention. It comes amid a growing body of scientific research suggesting that climate change may be altering jet stream patterns, potentially leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of so-called "clear-air turbulence," which occurs without the visual warning of a storm.
For the passengers and crew of Flight 56, the investigation is secondary to the harrowing experience they endured, a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of nature, even miles above the earth.
0 Comments