An investigation has been launched into the JetBlue incident. (File photo)
Eight passengers on a JetBlue flight from Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have been hospitalized after the plane encountered turbulence before landing in the US city. CBS News. The incident occurred on Monday (September 25), when the plane encountered “abrupt and severe turbulence,” a JetBlue official told the newspaper. The flight landed safely and medical personnel transported seven passengers and one crew member to a local hospital for medical attention and assessment.
The severity of the injuries is unknown.
“JetBlue will work to support our customers and crew members,” airline officials told the newspaper.
Authorities said the aircraft involved in the turbulence incident has been taken out of service for a thorough inspection.
On Monday afternoon, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it was launching an investigation into the incident. “NTSB has initiated an investigation into today’s turbulence that occurred on JetBlue #1256, an Airbus A320, during a cruise flight near Jamaica while en route from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Multiple injuries have been reported” , the agency said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This is the latest incident where passengers were injured due to severe turbulence during their flights.
A month ago, 11 people were hospitalized after a Delta flight encountered severe turbulence on approach to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Passengers and crew members of Delta Flight 175 were among the injured.
Tragedy struck in March when a Bombardier CL30 plane flying from Dillant-Hopkins Airport in New Hampshire to Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia encountered severe turbulence, resulting in the death of one passenger, the airline said. CBS News report. The flight had to divert to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
In another incident in March, several people were hospitalized after a Lufthansa flight from Austin to Frankfurt, Germany, encountered turbulence and had to make an emergency landing at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
The next day, about twenty passengers and crew on board a Condor flight from Frankfurt to Mauritius suffered injuries due to turbulence.
