Turbulence forces Delta flight to land and sends 25 passengers to hospitals, airline says
The Airbus A330-900, which can seat over 250 people, landed around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. The airport fire department and paramedics met the flight. The 25 passengers were taken to hospitals for evaluation and treatment, the airline said.
One passenger said people who weren't wearing seat belts were thrown about the cabin.
'They hit the ceiling, and then they fell to the ground,' Leann Clement-Nash told ABC News. 'And the carts also hit the ceiling and fell to the ground and people were injured. It happened several times, so it was really scary.'
Delta said in a statement: 'We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved.'
Serious injuries from in-flight turbulence are rare, but scientists say they may be becoming more common as climate change alters the jet stream.
A man was killed when a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence in May 2024, the first person to die from turbulence on a major airline in several decades.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
5 hours ago
- Fast Company
Research reveals how Delta and other airlines use AI to set ticket prices
Booking your last minute summer getaway? Delta recently revealed to what extent it's using artificial intelligence to set ticket prices. And while this is just the beginning of the AI revolution in pricing, here's some insight into how it's working so far, and may expand to other industries in the future. What happened? Delta recently made headlines, sparking backlash from consumer groups and concern from Congress, when president Glen Hauenstein revealed in the airline's latest earnings call it's currently using AI for 3% of domestic pricing, with the goal of about 20% by the end of the year. 'So, we're in heavy testing phase. We like what we see. We like it a lot and we're continuing to roll it out,' Hauenstein said. 'But we're going to take our time and make sure that the rollout is successful… the more data it has and the more cases we give it, the more it learns. And we're really excited about partnering with Fetcherr.' When Fast Company reached out to Delta about how this might affect consumers, the airline referred to its letter to Senators Ruben Gallego, Richard Blumenthal and Mark Warner which stated it is not 'using, and [does not] intend to use, AI for 'individualized' pricing or 'surveillance' pricing, leveraging consumer-specific personal data, such as sensitive personal circumstances or prior purchasing activity to set individualized prices… There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized prices based on personal data.' What AI will likely end up doing, according to ThePointsGuy's Clint Henderson, is create ' dynamic pricing model on steroids ' pinpointing flight prices with greater accuracy and a whole lot faster. What variables go into AI airline flight pricing? Delta has partnered with Israel-based software startup Fetcherr, which utilizes its Large Market Model (LLM) to decode intricate market behavior and forecast financial trends, and coupled it with historical and current data. Fetcherr's approach encompasses a comprehensive range of factors that influence market dynamics, and its recent white paper lists a few of those variables that go into airline flight pricing, namely, 'seat availability, current news, weather conditions, significant events, flight schedules, and even fluctuating oil prices, among others.' The question on most passengers' minds is whether working with companies like Fetcherr will lead airlines to use personalized pricing. Like Delta, Fetcherr told Fast Company its technology has been developed to streamline processes already in place at companies and 'does not allow for individualized or personalized pricing.' 'Our Generative AI system does not and will not use, collect or receive any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) [and] remains steadfast in our commitment to transparency and to our compliance with applicable regulations,' a spokesperson for Fetcherr said in a statement. Delta isn't the only airline using AI In its white paper, Fetcherr said it has also partnered with: Virgin Atlantic, UK; Viva Aerobus, Mexico, West Jet, Canada; and Royal Air Maroc—with the primary focus on optimizing key aspects such as pricing and inventory management. What's next for Fetcherr AI after airline pricing? Looking ahead, Fetcherr said it plans to expand into other industries like hospitality, insurance, commerce, and capital markets; with their models expanding beyond pricing and inventory decisions, to more complex challenges like making supply chain decisions and engaging in B2B strategic decision making.
7 hours ago
Chappell Roan's breakup song drives unexpected tourism buzz for Saskatchewan, Canada
Grammy winner Chappell Roan's new song has unexpectedly put Saskatchewan in the spotlight, driving increased interest in Canada's sunniest province, its tourism authority told ABC News. In her latest single "The Subway," released last week, Roan playfully suggests "movin' to Saskatchewan" as a cure for heartbreak. Even before the song's official release, Tourism Saskatchewan reported more than 230 social media mentions and nearly 40,000 interactions related to the region. "It's great news for our province," Jonathan Potts, CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan, told ABC News on Monday. "It's a lot of fun to have such a wonderful, popular artist singing our praises and giving us the opportunity to tell the story of Saskatchewan." When asked about the region's reception to Roan, who is a prominent voice in the LGBTQ+ community, Potts emphasized Saskatchewan's welcoming nature. "People are reacting very positively. It's a very open, welcome province. Everybody is welcome here, and everybody belongs here," he told ABC News. Located in Canada's prairie region and bordered by Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota, Saskatchewan boasts an impressive 2,000 to 2,500 hours of annual sunshine, according to the Canada Visa website. Home to just over 1.1 million residents, the province's largest urban centers include Saskatoon, with 300,000 residents, and the capital city Regina, with approximately 240,000 inhabitants. The province, which Potts described as being "almost the size of Texas," is launching a marketing campaign to capitalize on the unexpected attention. "Half the province is covered by forests and lakes. We've got 100,000 lakes in the province, lots of space, lots of great opportunities to find yourself," Potts said. "Whether you're getting over a breakup like maybe the song implies, or whether you're coming for some peace and quiet, or some of the best freshwater fishing in the world, this is the place for you."
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Forbes
Delta Incident Highlights Severe Turbulence Is Still A Risk In 2025
Last week, severe turbulence forced Delta Flight 56 en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam to divert to Minneapolis. The event left 25 people injured and several hospitalized, a jarring reminder that although turbulence is a normal part of flight, it can be far from harmless. This article is not about what Delta did or did not do when encountering severe turbulence. That is for the National Transportation Safety Board to determine. I want to talk about turbulence in terms of weather forecasting for the aviation industry and what airlines are doing today to address the risk. Air travel remains exceptionally safe by historical standards, turbulence-related injuries are steadily rising. FAA data shows a 55% increase over the past decade, even as aircraft themselves continue to be engineered to withstand far more stress than they encounter in normal flight. To understand how the industry is adapting, I spoke with my DTN colleague Scott Gilmore, who is a former commercial and military aviator. His view: turbulence forecasting has improved dramatically—but the real test is how fast crews can access and act on it. Before we get into turbulence forecasting, here is a primer on turbulence. Turbulence Classification And Risk Profiles There are different types of air turbulence, but all turbulence is categorized from light to extreme. Light causes minor strain against seat belts, while moderate leads to stronger jolts and unsecured items shifting. Severe turbulence can throw occupants against the cabin, and, while rare, extreme turbulence can result in structural damage and serious injuries. Each type of turbulence presents unique challenges for detection and avoidance: Clear Air Turbulence: Occurs in clear skies near jet streams and is invisible to radar, making it difficult to detect due to invisible atmospheric instability that often occurs in clear skies. CAT accounts for 65% of all turbulence-related injuries. Convective Turbulence: Linked to thunderstorms and severe weather systems with strong vertical air currents. While often visible on radar, its intensity can change quickly and unexpectedly. Wind Shear Turbulence: Caused by rapid changes in wind speed or direction, especially during takeoff and landing. It poses heightened risk during critical flight phases and has prompted major investments in detection systems. Thermal Turbulence: Arises from rising warm air due to uneven surface heating, commonly in deserts or over land during daytime. It is generally predictable and manageable through altitude and route adjustments. Mechanical Turbulence: Often called 'mountain wave,' this occurs when wind flows over terrain or structures, producing chaotic air patterns downwind. It is especially common near mountain ranges like the Rockies or Himalayas. Regardless of the type of turbulence, forecast models can detect and predict the formation. Nowcasting And The EDR Model Modern turbulence forecasts rely on Eddy Dissipation Rate, a standardized measurement of atmospheric instability. EDR plots help pilots and dispatchers assess where turbulence is most likely to occur and how intense it may be 6–12 hours ahead. But traditional forecasts can miss fast-changing conditions, especially near jet streams or convective weather systems. This is where short-range nowcasting is beneficial. It blends EDR model output with real-time observations, updating every 10 minutes. The forecast provides turbulence maps one to two hours ahead of an aircraft's current position. In principle, this allows flight crews to make better decisions in real time: change altitudes, adjust routes, and alert cabin crew to secure equipment. But the forecast is only useful if it arrives early enough to act on. Where Forecasting Falls Short Despite improvements in modeling, turbulence warnings often fail to reach the cockpit in time. According to Gilmore, many long-haul aircraft still lack reliable Wi-Fi, and even those with connectivity may experience bandwidth limitations. That means some flights enter rough air with no warning at all. This is why pilot reports are still a cornerstone of turbulence detection even though they are subjective and inconsistent. To bridge this gap, airlines lean on ACARS—a decades-old messaging system that transmits short text-based alerts over radio or satellite links. While it doesn't deliver high-resolution maps, ACARS can reliably communicate turbulence warnings when other systems fail. Gilmore sees this as critical: 'The science is solid. The delivery isn't. We need a reliable path to get turbulence data to pilots no matter where they're flying.' Technology Can Help—If The Crew Gets The Alert Gilmore said more carriers are deploying automated turbulence detection systems that collect sensor data directly from aircraft in flight. These systems provide consistent, objective turbulence reading and enable aircraft-to-aircraft data sharing, essentially crowd-sourced awareness of rough air. That same data also feeds into AI systems that scan historical patterns, satellite imagery, wind profiles, and radar observations to identify early signals of turbulence formation. Artificial intelligence also shows promise in enhancing in-cockpit decision support. By processing vast streams of weather, aircraft performance, and route data, AI systems can suggest real-time course corrections and safety measures with increasing precision. Many of these tools are already in use to support flight planning and route optimization. It is the delivery of real-time forecasting that remains the biggest challenge for alerting crew and passengers in time to prepare for impending turbulence. Why Injuries Still Happen FAA and NTSB reports consistently show that passengers seriously injured during turbulence were not wearing seat belts. Flight attendants face even higher risk, since they're often in the aisles performing service when turbulence strikes. Nearly 80% of severe injuries from turbulence involve cabin crew. These turbulence incidents also inflict significant financial costs on airlines, including $150–500 million annually in medical expenses, inspections, and flight disruptions. The solution isn't just better forecasting. It's better communication and more consistent adherence to safety practices. 'If you're not using your laptop, stow it. If you're not up for a reason, stay seated,' Gilmore advised. 'A loose laptop becomes a projectile in turbulence.' Airlines are responding by modifying service procedures during turbulence-prone phases and enhancing crew training to recognize early signs of instability. Some are also exploring AI-powered seatbelt sign systems that deliver risk-based messages, like, 'Moderate turbulence expected in 10 minutes. Please return to your seats.' Is Climate Change Making It Worse? Some studies suggest that rising global temperatures may intensify wind shear in jet streams, potentially leading to more frequent or severe clear-air turbulence, but this is still speculative. Attribution science, which I wrote about previously in Forbes, is a rigorous scientific approach and why we need more observable data and studies to attribute this increase to climate change. The data we have today is that turbulence incidents are increasing and that is enough reason to act. The Flight Path Forward The goal isn't necessarily to avoid turbulence. Gilmore points out that planes are built to fly through severe turbulence without damage to the plane or passengers. The goal is to anticipate and manage it. That means combining better models, more frequent updates, automated sensor-based detection, and smarter communication tools. Gilmore believes the industry is heading in the right direction but isn't there yet. 'We can't stop turbulence from happening. But we can prevent most injuries. That starts with getting the right information to the right people at the right time.'
