Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Minneapolis After Severe Turbulence Injures 25

A Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam made an emergency landing in Minneapolis after encountering severe turbulence. The incident injured 25 passengers, who were taken to local hospitals. The flight had 275 passengers and 13 crew members onboard.

A Delta Airlines flight en route to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday evening after encountering intense and unexpected turbulence that left dozens of people injured.

Flight 56, which departed from Salt Lake City International Airport at 4:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. BST), had been scheduled to travel for approximately nine hours. However, just over two hours into the journey, the aircraft was diverted due to what Delta later described as "significant" turbulence. The Airbus A330-900 landed in Minneapolis around 7:45 p.m. local time (1:45 a.m. BST), cutting the flight short by several hours.

As soon as the aircraft touched down, emergency medical teams were dispatched to meet the plane on the tarmac. These responders boarded the aircraft immediately to assess the condition of both passengers and crew members who had been affected by the turbulent conditions mid-flight. According to Delta Airlines, 25 passengers were injured severely enough to require transport to local hospitals, where they received medical attention. The airline did not immediately disclose the nature or extent of the injuries but emphasized that it is “working with customers to support their immediate needs” in the aftermath of the incident.

The flight was carrying 275 passengers along with 13 crew members at the time of the event. While turbulence is a common occurrence in air travel, incidents resulting in such a high number of injuries are relatively rare.

Data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that, since 2009, there have been 207 cases of severe turbulence-related injuries in the country. These are defined as injuries serious enough to warrant hospitalization for more than 48 hours. On a global scale, aviation experts estimate that there are around 5,000 cases of severe or greater turbulence annually—this out of a staggering 35 million flights that take off around the world each year.

Severe turbulence occurs when a plane passes through disturbed air masses that cause rapid changes in vertical movement. These forces can create g-forces greater than 1.5 times the force of gravity—enough to lift an unbelted passenger out of their seat. That’s why aviation safety authorities constantly stress the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened while seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other relevant authorities are expected to investigate the incident further, while Delta continues to manage the aftermath and make alternate travel arrangements for those affected.