Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A cross-country JetBlue flight bound for Sacramento, Calif., was forced to divert to South Dakota after hitting severe turbulence, and passengers describe the plane suddenly plunging as people went flying.

"About two dozen passengers and crew were injured, and the plane was diverted to Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota," South Dakota Public Broadcasting's Gary Ellenbolt reports on NPR's Newscast. "Katherine McMillan with JetBlue says the airline has sent care-team members to help the injured people."

All 22 passengers and two crew members from Flight 429 who were sent to the hospital had minor injuries and have since been discharged, South Dakota's KELO reported.

The flight took off from Boston Logan International Airport at 5:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, according to JetBlue's flight status information. A replacement flight eventually landed in Sacramento at 4:19 a.m. local time.

One passenger recounted the tumultuous experience to KELO:

Alan Lee, a doctor who treated several other passengers, described the moment when the plane suddenly plummeted to the Boston Globe:

Passenger Derek Lindahl posted a photo on Twitter of one of the plane's toilets apparently torn from its foundations during the turbulence.

https://twitter.com/oif_vet/status/763961058490933248

Another passenger, Rhonda Renee, described the turbulence as "like a bad dream," CNN reported.

"People were flying out of their seat belts and hitting their head on the ceiling; it was very scary," Renee said.

Disasters

Flight 429 from Boston to Sacramento was forced to divert to South Dakota after hitting severe turbulence. Passengers describe the plane suddenly plunging as people went flying.

'Like a bad dream': Turbulence on JetBlue flight injures 2 dozen people

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox