Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Eleven passengers hospitalised after severe turbulence on Delta flight: ‘Bunch of blood and awfulness’

The Federal Aviation Administration has since launched an investigation into the incident

Andrea Blanco
Wednesday 30 August 2023 10:39 EDT
Comments
(AFP via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Eleven people were taken to the hospital after an Atlanta-bound Delta flight hit turbulence.

The airline said in a statement that the flight travelling from Milan, Italy, experienced “severe turbulence” around 40 miles northeast of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The aircraft landed safely at around 7pm local time on Tuesday but several people had to be hospitalised.

A spokesperson for Delta told CNN that the flight carried 151 passengers and 14 crew members and that individuals but did not specify how many passengers were transported to the hospital.

The nature of the injuries those individuals sustained is unclear but are reportedly not life-threatening. The Federal Aviation Administration has since launched an investigation into the incident.

The flight landed 20 minutes ahead of schedule after the pilot declared an emergency. A woman who was onboard the flight told Fox5 that uninjured passengers waited two hours before they were allowed to deplane.

“Looked to be about 12 people with serious head injuries. Several flight attendants, too. Bunch of blood and awfulness,” that passenger told the network. “My fiancée and I are so freaked out, we are renting a car and driving to our final destination instead.”

“Delta Care Team members are mobilizing to connect with customers on Delta Flight 175 that experienced severe turbulence before landing safely in Atlanta Tuesday. Our priority is taking care of our customers and crew who sustained injuries,” Delta said in a statement.

“We are grateful for the first responders who met the aircraft to provide medical attention and who are transporting the injured to [the] hospital.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in