A terrifying mid-air ordeal shook a Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, leaving 25 passengers and crew members hospitalized after violent turbulence forced an emergency landing in Minnesota.
Passengers describe the experience as nothing short of a nightmare. Service carts and unsecured items went flying as people screamed, and some travelers were thrown from their seats. One woman said it felt like an earthquake in the sky, while another passenger admitted, “I thought the plane was going down.”
The chaos erupted Wednesday when Delta Flight DL56 encountered severe turbulence over southwestern Wyoming… an area the FAA had flagged for possible rough air. The pilot quickly diverted the aircraft to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, where medical teams were waiting on the tarmac.
“I watched a flight attendant nearly hit the ceiling,” passenger Joseph Carbone recalled. “When it finally ended, we kissed the ground.”
Delta confirmed the plane was carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members, and medical personnel evaluated dozens after landing. By Thursday morning, all seven crew members and the majority of hospitalized passengers had been treated and released.
Frequent flyer William Webster, who takes around 80 flights a year, said this was “the craziest turbulence I’ve ever seen in my life.” He described feeling weightless as items like wine bottles, phones, and cups were tossed through the air. Another passenger, Leslie Woods, said a young girl nearby was sobbing, convinced the plane would crash.
The airline provided hotel accommodations and rebooked flights for travelers once the emergency was under control. Delta praised its crew for guiding passengers safely through a terrifying skyquake that left many shaken but thankful to be alive.
