Rough air disrupted a domestic American Airlines flight on Sunday, sending five people on board to the hospital.
The injuries occurred after the Airbus A321 plane encountered “unexpected turbulence,” the airline told ABC News, as it flew from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina.
American Airlines flight 1286 landed safely at RDU at 10:50 p.m. on June 22, “after the crew reported possible injuries to cabin crew and passengers due to turbulence,” according to the FAA. The agency also noted that it will be investigating the incident.
Three flight attendants and two customers were taken to a local hospital for observation and were released by Monday, the carrier told ABC News. The seatbelt sign was on when the turbulence occurred.
Incidents of severe turbulence are becoming more common amid climate change, according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. Earlier in June, a similar situation occurred on a Ryanair flight in Germany that led to three people on board needing hospital treatment for their injuries.
Unexpected rough air, or “clear air” turbulence as it’s called in the aviation industry, is also happening more frequently. These incidents can be particularly dangerous, as they can strike with little or no warning. Because clear air turbulence is only apparent when the plane begins shaking, passengers should always ensure their seatbelts are fastened, even when the aircraft seems to be flying smoothly.
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