Severe turbulence injures 9 aboard Avianca flight, forcing emergency landing in Miami

Nine individuals were injured when an Avianca flight experienced severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing in Miami on Friday morning. Three crew members and six passengers were impacted by the turbulence and required medical attention. The airline stated that the unharmed passengers were transported to New York shortly after the incident.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported that one person was airlifted to a trauma center with severe injuries, while the remaining six were taken to local hospitals via ambulance.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Avianca Airbus A320, en route from Medellin, Colombia to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, had to divert to Miami due to the turbulence. The airline emphasized that the safety of its customers and employees remains its top priority. While severe injuries from in-flight turbulence are uncommon, climate change may be contributing to an increase in such incidents, as reported by the International Air Transport Association.

Last summer, 24 passengers required hospitalization after a Delta Air Lines flight encountered turbulence triggered by a thunderstorm over Wyoming.