Aircraft Encounters Heavy Turbulence, 21 People Injured

A United Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles from Washington, DC Tuesday encountered heavy turbulence, forcing the plane to divert to Denver. 21 people on board the Boeing 777 were injured, one critically.

The plane landed safely in Denver and those injured, 17 passengers and 4 crew according to the NTSB, were transferred to local hospitals. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told The Denver Post that they were "mostly walking injuries," but some people suffered whiplash strains and sprains.

USA Today reports that the flight encountered the turbulence at FL340 over Kansas. One passenger, 19-year-old Kaoma Bechaz, who is visiting from Australia, said the head of the woman sitting next to her hit the cabin wall, leaving a crack above the window. Another flew up to the ceiling. She said she had her seatbelt securely fastened, and so she escaped injury.

Bechaz described the turbulence as "just a huge up and down."

United re-booked as many passengers as possible on flights to LA from Denver, but eventually scheduled an additional flight on which many of those passengers finally reached their destination. 

The FAA said plane was diverted to Denver as a precaution. The NTSB said Wednesday that initial reports indicate minor damage to the interior of the cabin. However, both the FAA and the NTSB said they would be inspecting the plane more closely. The NTSB said information from the flight data recorder was downloaded in Denver and was received at NTSB headquarters Wednesday where it will be studied by investigators.

FMI: www.faa.gov. www.ntsb.gov, www.united.com