Eight people have been hospitalised after an Avianca Airlines flight bound for New York City was forced to divert due to severe turbulence. Avianca Flight 042 departed Medellín, Colombia, on October 9, bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport, but was diverted to Miami.
Passengers injured during severe turbulence
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) reported that "multiple patients" were injured. Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft, operated by Colombia's flag carrier, landed safely at Miami International Airport at around 3.30 am on Friday, according to the Daily Express.
Passengers reported that several ambulances were waiting upon arrival. "Seven of them with their lights on as if they were waiting for something," passenger Maria Paula Jimenez told CBS News Miami in Spanish. "When we arrived, well, you know, it wasn't normal."
Passengers describe chaos and injuries
Eight injured passengers were rushed to hospital after the plane landed, MDFR said. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. Terrifying footage captured by passengers shows the aircraft rocked by sudden drops in altitude, with chaos erupting inside the cabin.
More video shows people with ice packs on their heads as they were instructed to keep seat belts on. Loose items, carry-on bags and passengers wearing seatbelts were "thrown" around the aircraft, according to W Fla. Hospital officials said the victims sustained moderate to severe head and shoulder injuries after being thrown from their seats.
"I don't want to go out. I only want to go back home," one woman aboard the plane told NBC6. "What I can tell you is you value your life so much when something like that happens."
Earlier incident on American Airlines flight
Earlier this week, an American Airlines flight carrying more than 280 people was forced to divert to New York after "only two potties" were left operating on board. The Boeing 777 200ER left Madrid at 11.10am local time on October 6 and was well into its 10-hour journey to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when a toilet issue struck. There are usually eight toilets on board, but only two were working.
"American Airlines Flight 37 landed at JFK International Airport in New York after the crew reported an inadequate number of operational lavatories," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
