Minneapolis: A Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport on Wednesday after encountering severe turbulence that left at least 25 people injured.
Delta Flight DL56, operating an Airbus A330-900 aircraft, was carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members when it was struck by intense turbulence mid-flight. The turbulence occurred during meal service and reportedly came in three strong waves, causing food trays, carts, and unsecured passengers to be thrown into the air.
“The turbulence hit in three separate waves… I just saw everything fly through the air,” a passenger told local media.
Following the incident, the pilot diverted the aircraft to Minneapolis, where it landed safely around 7:45 pm local time. Emergency responders were on standby at the airport, and 25 injured passengers and crew members were transported to area hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment. The nature of the injuries has not been officially disclosed, but authorities confirmed that all injured are expected to recover.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement confirming the incident and said its care teams were mobilized to provide support to affected passengers and crew. “Delta teams are providing assistance to customers and crew members, including medical care for those injured,” the airline said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified of the event and is expected to investigate the cause and severity of the turbulence. While turbulence-related injuries are rare, experts have warned of an increase in such events due to shifting global weather patterns.
The airline arranged alternative travel for the remaining passengers after the aircraft was grounded for inspection.
This incident follows other recent cases of turbulence-related injuries, prompting renewed calls for passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened while seated, regardless of whether the seatbelt sign is illuminated.