A Delta Airlines flight en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport on Wednesday evening after encountering severe turbulence. According to Delta, 25 passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

The Airbus A330-900, carrying over 250 passengers, landed safely at around 7:45 p.m. local time. Emergency responders, including paramedics and fire personnel, met the aircraft on arrival.

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Passengers describe chaos mid-air

Several passengers recounted terrifying moments during the turbulence, which reportedly caused the aircraft to suddenly rise by 500 feet before plunging 1,500 feet. “There was a point where we were weightless,” said Leann Clement-Nash, a passenger onboard. “People hit the ceiling and fell back down. It was terrifying.” Food carts were also tossed in the air, intensifying the injuries. Adam Nash, seated nearby, said he suffered rib injuries and was struck by his laptop. “The man two seats away from me had a gash on his head,” he said, recalling the chaos in the cabin.

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Turbulence-related injuries on the rise

While serious injuries from turbulence remain rare, experts warn such incidents may be increasing in frequency. Climate scientists point to changes in the jet stream caused by global warming as a contributing factor. Delta issued a statement thanking emergency responders and confirming that its Delta Care Team is assisting affected customers. “Safety is our No. 1 value,” the airline said. The incident comes just months after a Singapore Airlines passenger was killed in a similar turbulence event, one of the first fatal turbulence-related airline incidents in decades.