Passengers aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner experienced moments of terror before their plane made an emergency landing in Brazil due to severe turbulence, resulting in 30 injuries.
Air Europa announced that the aircraft was on a flight from Madrid to Montevideo when the incident occurred in the air, according to foreign media reports. The Spanish airline stated on its X (formerly Twitter) account that flight UX045 was diverted to Natal Airport in northeastern Brazil on its way to the Uruguayan capital. The airline added that the injured passengers were receiving "attention."
A spokesperson for Air Europa reported that the plane, carrying 325 passengers, encountered turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean just before reaching the Brazilian coast. The aircraft landed safely, greeted by a fleet of ambulances. Airport officials indicated that some passengers required medical assistance and were taken to the nearest hospital.
A local medical team informed Brazilian media that they treated at least 30 passengers of various nationalities, with 10 being transported to the hospital. The team noted that the patients suffered head injuries during the turbulence and experienced various injuries, including skull fractures and facial wounds.
This incident comes weeks after a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence over Myanmar, injuring dozens and resulting in the death of a British man. Severe turbulence is rare, but recent studies have shown that climate change may increase associated risks.
