Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty ImagesAnAmerican Airlines flighthad to be diverted this week due to severe turbulence that left several injured.The flight was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Nashville on Wednesday with 56 passengers onboard, and was forced to land in Birmingham, Alabama, after hitting unexpected turbulence over the Pensacola area of the Florida Panhandle, officials said per theAssociated Press. The plane landed at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.“The Embraer E175 landed without incident at 3:17 p.m. CT and safely taxied to the gate. Two flight attendants and six passengers were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,” American Airlines said in a statement.Kim Hunt, Public Information Officer at the Alabama-Shuttlesworth airport, told PEOPLE, “We get calls about turbulence and at times deal with some level of injury, not often, but [Wednesday’s incident] and having more than one or two people injured is certainly unusual.” Hunt added, “landing here was much safer than had they gone on to Nashville.“GettyBirmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene at 3:15 p.m., fire Capt. Orlando Reynolds told news outlets, adding that at least seven people taken to a local hospital complained of neck and back pain.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.American Airlines said another aircraft would be arriving at the airport Wednesday to continue to its intended destination, perAP.
Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty Images
AnAmerican Airlines flighthad to be diverted this week due to severe turbulence that left several injured.The flight was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Nashville on Wednesday with 56 passengers onboard, and was forced to land in Birmingham, Alabama, after hitting unexpected turbulence over the Pensacola area of the Florida Panhandle, officials said per theAssociated Press. The plane landed at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.“The Embraer E175 landed without incident at 3:17 p.m. CT and safely taxied to the gate. Two flight attendants and six passengers were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,” American Airlines said in a statement.Kim Hunt, Public Information Officer at the Alabama-Shuttlesworth airport, told PEOPLE, “We get calls about turbulence and at times deal with some level of injury, not often, but [Wednesday’s incident] and having more than one or two people injured is certainly unusual.” Hunt added, “landing here was much safer than had they gone on to Nashville.“GettyBirmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene at 3:15 p.m., fire Capt. Orlando Reynolds told news outlets, adding that at least seven people taken to a local hospital complained of neck and back pain.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.American Airlines said another aircraft would be arriving at the airport Wednesday to continue to its intended destination, perAP.
AnAmerican Airlines flighthad to be diverted this week due to severe turbulence that left several injured.
The flight was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Nashville on Wednesday with 56 passengers onboard, and was forced to land in Birmingham, Alabama, after hitting unexpected turbulence over the Pensacola area of the Florida Panhandle, officials said per theAssociated Press. The plane landed at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
“The Embraer E175 landed without incident at 3:17 p.m. CT and safely taxied to the gate. Two flight attendants and six passengers were transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,” American Airlines said in a statement.
Kim Hunt, Public Information Officer at the Alabama-Shuttlesworth airport, told PEOPLE, “We get calls about turbulence and at times deal with some level of injury, not often, but [Wednesday’s incident] and having more than one or two people injured is certainly unusual.” Hunt added, “landing here was much safer than had they gone on to Nashville.”
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Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene at 3:15 p.m., fire Capt. Orlando Reynolds told news outlets, adding that at least seven people taken to a local hospital complained of neck and back pain.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
American Airlines said another aircraft would be arriving at the airport Wednesday to continue to its intended destination, perAP.
source: people.com
