Topline
Twenty-five people flying onboard a Delta Airlines flight had to be hospitalized on Wednesday after their plane faced “significant turbulence” and was forced to make an emergency landing, the airline said in a statement.
The Delta Airlines flight enroute from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency stop in Minneapolis due to “significant turbulence.”
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Key Facts
In a statement released late on Wednesday, Delta said its flight DL56 from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam “encountered significant turbulence while enroute.”
Due to the turbulence, the plane had to be diverted to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
After landing, medical personnel evaluated everyone on board, and twenty-five people were sent to local hospitals for further “evaluation and care.”
The airline’s statement didn’t mention if anyone on board suffered any serious injuries.
Delta said the plane in question was an Airbus A330-900.
What Does Flight Tracking Data Show?
According to flight tracking data on Flightradar24, the Delta Airlines flight DL56 witnessed a sudden change in altitude while cruising at 37,000 feet over Wyoming, roughly 40 minutes into the flight. In a span of approximately 30 seconds, the flight’s altitude rose from 36,950 feet to 38,000 feet before quickly descending around 1,500 feet in the next 30 seconds. A short while later, tracking data showed the plane diverting its course towards the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport.
Big Number
207. That is the total number of people who has sustained serious injuries from turbulence on planes between 2009 and 2024 according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight crew members accounted for 166 of these serious injuries while 40 such cases involved passengers.
Further Reading
Over 7,000 Flight Delays Monday—Here’s How Extreme Heat Disrupts Air Travel (Forbes)