New York: Seven passengers were hospitalised after a United Airlines flight had to be diverted due to severe turbulence.
The Boeing 787 aircraft was travelling from Tel Aviv to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday. However, due to “high winds” and a “passenger medical emergency,” the plane was forced to land at New York’s Stewart International Airport in New Windsor.
Flight UA 85 landed safely at New York following the diversion, reported Fox News.
About 25 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics were rushed to assess the passengers at Stewart International Airport. Of the 310 passengers and crew members on board, 7 were transported to a local hospital while several others were treated for minor ailments.
In a statement, United Airlines said that one flyer was deplaned due to a medical emergency while “a few other customers were seen by medical personnel for possible motion sickness.”
“On arrival, our first EMS unit on the scene was encountered by a flight crew who stated they hit severe turbulence while landing at Newark and were diverted New York International Airport and they advised our crew that they had multiple people on the plane complaining of nausea, some chest pain, from the turbulence,” New Windsor EMS Chief Michael Bigg said.
“We evaluated about 30 people, and we transported 7 to the local hospital just for observation, no serious injuries or ailments. Most people just wanted to get checked out at the local emergency room,” he added, CNN reported.
United Airlines has been under severe criticism and scrutiny following a series of mid-air mishaps recently. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement last week that it is increasing the oversight of the company.
