At least 30 people were reported injured after a flight encountered “strong turbulence” and made an emergency landing in Brazil.
The Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was on the route from Madrid to Montevideo when the incident occurred mid-air, according to the airline.
Flight UX045 was rerouted to Natal airport in north-eastern Brazil while heading to the capital of Uruguay, as stated by the Spanish company on X, previously known as Twitter.
The airline mentioned that injured passengers were “receiving attention.” With 325 passengers on board, the aircraft encountered turbulence over the Atlantic just before reaching the Brazilian coast, as per an Air Europa spokesperson.
The plane landed without issues and was greeted by several ambulances. Airport authorities noted that some passengers required medical care and were transported to the nearest hospital.
A local medical team informed Brazilian media that they treated at least 30 passengers of different nationalities, with 10 taken to the hospital. The injured had sustained head injuries, including cranial fractures and facial cuts, as a result of the turbulence, the team added.
This incident follows a recent one involving a Singapore Airlines flight that faced severe turbulence over Myanmar, resulting in numerous injuries and the death of a British man. Severe turbulence is uncommon, but recent research suggests climate change may be increasing its occurrence.
Nancy Mbamalu
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