On Sunday, an American Airlines flight from Miami to North Carolina encountered unexpected turbulence, resulting in three flight attendants and two passengers being hospitalized. The Airbus A321 safely landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 10:50 p.m., with the crew reporting possible injuries to cabin crew and passengers due to turbulence, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Upon landing, RDU Fire Rescue and other rescue personnel from Wake and Durham Counties responded to the scene, transporting the five injured individuals to a nearby hospital.
The airline stated that the seat belt sign was on during the turbulence, indicating that passengers and crew were likely buckled in during the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the turbulence and assess the safety of the aircraft. While the airline has not yet released further details about the extent of any injuries, passengers described the experience as alarming, with one comparing it to ‘being on the top of a roller coaster and going down.’ Another passenger noted that the sudden shift in altitude caused items such as laptops, cell phones, and contents of the drinks cart to fly around the cabin.
A passenger who remained anonymous described witnessing two flight attendants being injured, including one who suffered a broken arm and another who was burned from hot water on the drinks cart. A man was also reported to have been knocked unconscious during the incident. One passenger told WRAL News, ‘I would say it was absolutely horrific. People thought that they were going to lose their lives.’ This highlights the potential dangers associated with in-flight turbulence and the need for continued safety measures within the aviation industry.
As the FAA conducts its investigation, the aviation community is reminded of the unpredictable nature of turbulence and the importance of proper safety protocols. American Airlines has not issued a statement on the incident’s impact on its operations, but the event serves as a stark reminder of the risks that air travel can pose, even in well-maintained aircraft.