a white airplane on a runway

Seven passengers were injured after a Unitd Airlines 737-900ER encoutered severe turbuelnce enroute from Cancun to Chicago, forcing a diversion in Memphis, Tennessee.

7 Injured, 1 Hospitalized After United Airlines 737-900 Makes Emergency Landing Due To Severe Turbulence,

On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, United 1196 took off five minutes ahead of schedule at 12:15 pm from Cancun (CUN) bound for Chicago O’Hare (ORD). The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-900ER (10.6 year old, resgistration N66814) with 20 seats in busienss class and 159 seats in economy class. All seats were occupied and the flight was serviced by two pilots and five flight attendants.

But after crossing the Gulf of Mexico and flying over Louisiana, the aircraft encountered unexecpted but severe turbuelnce. The sudden and violent nature of the turbulence injured seven, even though–accoding to United–the seatbelt light was on during the encounter:

“United flight 1196 diverted to Memphis this afternoon after encountering a brief period of severe turbulence while the seatbelt sign was on. Paramedics met the aircraft at the gate and transported one passenger to the hospital.”

UA1196 landed at Memphis 2:54 pm local time where paramedics treated the seven injured passngers, transpoirting one to the hosptial. The specific nature of the injuries is not (yet) known.

By 4:34 pm the flight was back in the air, landing in Chicago at 6:27 pm, 2 hours and 12 minutes behind schedule.

a screenshot of a map

a screenshot of a map

I’m very thankful this did not turn out worse. It has been a rough year for turbulence:


image: / Flickr

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