Two passengers were hospitalized Thursday night after a SkyWest-operated United Express flight from Aspen to Houston encountered severe turbulence and was diverted to Austin, officials said.
A SkyWest Airlines flight, working as United Express, was redirected to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday due to turbulence that resulted in injuries to passengers, necessitating an emergency response and subsequent hospitalizations.
Flight 5971 took off from Aspen, Colorado, at 4:43 p.m. local time, heading to Houston, but faced intense turbulence that resulted in injuries, as reported by the airline. The Embraer 175 touched down in Austin just after 8 p.m., arriving over three hours later than planned, according to FlightAware tracking data.
Officials at Austin-Bergstrom reported that EMS crews assessed all 39 passengers along with the four crew members present on the flight. Two adult passengers were transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that seemed to be non-life-threatening.
Audio from air traffic control, later acquired by KVUE, indicated that at least one injured passenger was experiencing bleeding. A flight attendant called for a stretcher at the gate, suggesting that a crew member might have sustained injuries as well.
A video posted on Facebook by Gretchen Gilliam shows the aftermath, featuring a traveler recounting how a man was thrown into the ceiling during the turbulence.
SkyWest emphasized in a statement that prioritizing safety is of utmost importance to them. “The safety and well-being of everyone onboard is our top priority, and we are collaborating with our partner United to support our customers,” the airline stated.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, turbulence remains a primary factor contributing to in-flight injuries for both airline passengers and crew members. The FAA has issued more frequent advisories urging travelers to buckle up while seated, citing the unpredictable nature of certain occurrences.
Although Thursday’s incident concluded with a secure landing, the diversion highlights the dangers that turbulence can present, even in standard commercial flights.
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