25 Passengers Hospitalized After Delta Flight Experiences ‘Significant Turbulence’

At least 25 passengers were hospitalized after a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 30.

Flight DL56, operated by an Airbus A330-900, was diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport after experiencing what the airline described as “significant turbulence” mid-flight. The plane, carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members, landed safely at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time.

“Medical personnel met the aircraft upon arrival to evaluate customers and crew,” Delta said in a statement. “Twenty-five of those on board were transported to local hospitals for evaluation and care. We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved.”

Delta emphasized that passenger safety is its top priority. “Our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs,” the airline added.

Emergency medical services and the airport’s fire department were waiting at the gate as the flight landed, assisting those injured during the incident.

The plane had departed Salt Lake City at 4:30 p.m., according to BBC News. As of Thursday morning, neither Delta nor the Metropolitan Airports Commission had released additional details regarding the severity of the injuries or the cause of the turbulence.

A Growing Threat in the Skies

Turbulence-related injuries, while relatively rare, have been increasing. Between 2009 and 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 40 passenger and 166 crew injuries due to turbulence, based on National Transportation Safety Board data.

Researchers warn that such incidents are likely to become more common. A 2023 study from the American Geophysical Union found that skies today are 55% bumpier than they were four decades ago, with the sharpest increase seen in clear-air turbulence—an invisible and especially dangerous type of disturbance that often occurs without warning.

“Warmer air caused by rising carbon dioxide levels is intensifying wind shear in jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence both over the North Atlantic and globally,” the study’s authors noted.

Mark Prosser, a meteorologist from the University of Reading in England and co-author of the study, said the aviation industry will need to adapt.

“Turbulence not only poses safety risks but costs the U.S. airline industry between $150 and $500 million annually,” Prosser explained. “Every minute spent flying through turbulence increases wear-and-tear on aircraft and raises the risk of injury to passengers and crew.”

As investigators work to determine what led to Wednesday’s turbulence, the incident serves as a reminder of the evolving challenges airlines face in a changing climate.

Passengers aboard Delta Flight DL56 have since been rebooked or provided with accommodations as the airline continues to respond to the situation.