Severe Turbulence Hits Flight At 37K Feet, 7 Hospitalised

Frankfurt: Turbulence on a flight can be an unnerving experience. And if it’s a ‘significant turbulence’, passengers are left praying for their lives.

Passengers on a Lufthansa flight had such a scary experience when a Frankfurt-bound flight from Austin (Texas, US) had to be diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport, reported AP.

The flight landed safely, but seven people on board had to be taken to hospitals with varying injuries, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Michael Cabbage said.

Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Airbus A330 aircraft reported severe turbulence at an altitude of 37,000 feet.

Susan Zimmerman, one of the passengers on that flight was quoted as saying by news agencies that the pilot told cabin crew the plane had fallen about 1,000 feet during the turbulence, which came on suddenly.

“It felt like the bottom just dropped out from underneath. Everything was floating up. For a moment, you are weightless,” she said.

The brief but severe turbulence took place an hour and a half after takeoff, Lufthansa said.

While the affected passengers received medical attention, ground staff were working to rebook passengers, the airline informed.