Salt Lake City–Amsterdam Flight Diverted to Minneapolis Amid Onboard Chaos
US-based Delta Air Lines announced that Flight DL56, operating the Salt Lake City–Amsterdam route on Wednesday, July 30, made an emergency landing at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport due to severe turbulence during the flight. Twenty-five passengers were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
In an official statement, Delta said:
“Upon arrival, medical personnel met the aircraft to evaluate customers and crew. Twenty-five individuals were transported to local hospitals for further assessment and care. We are grateful for the support of all emergency response teams.”
One of the passengers onboard, William Webster, told CNN:
“It was the craziest turbulence I’ve ever seen in my life. I was lifted out of my seat for about 30 seconds. I could feel the centrifugal force.”
The turbulence reportedly occurred while cabin crew were serving meals. Webster described the chaos:
“I saw a wine cart fly into the air.”
Climate Crisis Increasing Turbulence
Experts warn that turbulence incidents during flights are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Atmospheric scientist Professor Paul Williams from the University of Reading told the BBC:
“Over the next few decades, we can expect the amount of severe turbulence around the world to double or triple.”
According to data reported by the BBC, there have been 207 serious turbulence-related injuries in the US alone since 2009. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) defines a “serious injury” as one requiring more than 48 hours of hospitalisation.
Flight Data Confirms Turbulence
According to Flightradar24 data, approximately 40 minutes after take-off, the aircraft climbed over 300 metres in just 30 seconds, then suddenly dropped 400 metres within another 30 seconds. The abrupt altitude change caused passengers to be thrown from their seats.
Delta stated that a technical assessment of the aircraft is ongoing and an investigation into the incident is underway.
