An unusually turbulent flight resulted in 25 passengers being sent to area hospitals after an emergency landing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to a statement by Delta Airlines. The flight, which was set to travel from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, was forced to land after severe mid-air turbulence, which resulted in twenty-five individuals being taken to the hospital.

What Happened On This Flight?

Delta Flight DL56 was set to travel from Salt Lake City, UT, to Amsterdam in the Netherlands on Wednesday, July 30. However, as the plane traveled through the sky, it began to experience what staff referred to as “significant turbulence,” forcing the plane to land in Minneapolis, MN. In total, twenty-five people, including seven staff members and eighteen passengers, were brought to area hospitals for medical treatment.

What is Known About the Plane?

The plane is an Airbus A330-900, a fixed-wing multi-engine plane with tail number N422DZ, registered to Delta Airlines in Atlanta, Georgia. The plane itself was manufactured in 2023, with a certificate valid through until 2030. In total, there were thirteen crew members and 275 passengers on board the flight.

Why Did This Happen?

The exact cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While turbulence is not unusual during a flight, it is extremely rare for a plane to suffer turbulence sufficient to cause injuries to those on board. This could be indicative of a number of issues, including a failure to take note of local weather patterns, or potential mechanical issues that may have made the turbulence more dangerous for those on board.

What Should You Do if This Happens to You?

For international flights to countries that have signed on to the Montreal Convention, such as the Netherlands, the provisions of the Montreal Convention govern recovery for injuries or death resulting from an accident that occurs during the flight or upon embarking/disembarking the plane.  Under the Montreal Convention, an injured passenger is currently entitled to recover up to 151,880 Special Drawing Rights as defined by the International Monetary Fund (currently worth approximately $112,000) whether or not the airline was negligent; if damages are higher than that, a passenger can recover above that amount if the airline was negligent in causing what happened.

The attorneys at the Keith Williams Law Group are experienced in handling aviation accident cases under the Montreal Convention.  For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.