Avianca flight makes emergency landing in Miami after severe turbulence, at least 8 injured
Eight people injured after flight from Medellin to New York encounters extreme turbulence
Quick Look
- An Avianca flight from Medellin to New York diverted to Miami early Friday after severe turbulence injured nine people.
- Eight were hospitalized, including one in serious condition.
- The FAA and airline are addressing the incident amid rising global turbulence reports.
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Why It Matters
The International Air Transport Association reported a 25% increase in turbulence complaints last year. Experts suggest climate change may be increasing the frequency of such events.
An Avianca flight had to make an emergency landing in Miami early Friday due to extreme turbulence, injuring at least eight people. Miami-Dade fire rescue said that seven people were transported to nearby hospitals in ambulances, and one person was sent to a trauma center with serious injuries, after the jet touched down just after 3 AM in the morning on Friday.
According to the airline, nine people—six passengers and three staff members—were impacted by the turbulence and required medical attention. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Airbus A320 had to divert to Miami, when the Avianca aircraft was traveling from Medellin, Colombia, to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
According to Avianca, the passengers, who were not hurt transported to New York early on Friday. "The safety of our customers, and employees is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations," the airline stated.
Although severe injuries from in-flight turbulence are uncommon, experts believe that if climate change modifies the jet stream, they may become more frequent. According to the International Air Transport Association, there were almost 25% more complaints of turbulence occurrences last year.
24 people were hospitalised last summer, after a Delta air lines flight encountered severe turbulence caused by a thunderstorm over Wyoming. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, passengers, and flight attendants were thrown against the aircraft’s ceiling with such force that some interior panels cracked. They then fell back to the floor before being tossed upwards again. The seat belt sign was switched off at the time, and some passengers were standing while cabin crew served drinks when the aircraft hit the turbulence, according to the News Agency AP. At least 20 passengers have filed lawsuits against Delta over the incident, alleging that the airline could have avoided the severe weather. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that passengers keep their seat belts fastened, whenever possible to protect themselves from unexpected turbulence.
Open Questions
- What was the specific cause of the turbulence?
- Are there any ongoing investigations into the flight path?
