Severe turbulence forces Delta flight to divert: 25 injured

Thursday 31 July 2025 - 15:30

A Delta Airlines flight en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday evening after encountering severe turbulence, leaving 25 people injured.

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff aboard Delta Flight 56, operated by an Airbus A330-900 carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members. The aircraft was rerouted and landed safely at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time, about two hours into the flight.

Emergency responders were on site upon arrival to assist the injured. According to local authorities, 25 individuals, including both passengers and crew, were transported to area hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment.

In a statement, Delta Airlines said it was working closely with affected passengers to ensure their well-being. Although the specific nature of the injuries has not been disclosed, the airline confirmed the turbulence encountered was “significant.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that turbulence has caused over 200 serious injuries in the U.S. since 2009. Globally, an estimated 5,000 incidents involving severe or extreme turbulence occur each year.

Such turbulence can generate sudden vertical jolts exceeding 1.5 g, strong enough to lift unbuckled passengers from their seats — reinforcing the importance of wearing seat belts at all times during flights.