MIAMI — Nine people were hurt when an Avianca flight hit severe turbulence and made an emergency landing in Miami early Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said one person was rushed to a trauma center with severe injuries and seven others were taken to hospitals after the plane landed shortly after 3 a.m. Avianca said three crew members and six passengers were affected.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Airbus A320 was flying from Medellín, Colombia, to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York when it diverted.
Avianca said uninjured passengers were rebooked to continue to New York.
Serious turbulence injuries are rare, but the International Air Transport Association said turbulence reports it received rose more than 25% last year, according to the AP. Travelers are urged to keep seat belts fastened whenever seated.
Sources: Associated Press via KTAR News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
