Thu, Jul 22, 2010
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.
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