Clear air turbulence on transatlantic United flight injures 12 people
- 8 years ago
HOUSTON — Severe turbulence on board a transatlantic United Airlines flight caused a plane to divert after 12 people were injured.
KTRK reports that United Airlines flight 880 was flying from Houston to London with 207 passengers and 13 crew members on board when they encountered a mid-air scare.
The plane hit turbulence just over the Atlantic, which caused it to shake and drop violently. Passengers who weren’t buckled in were thrown out of their seats, while others sustained cuts and bruises from the impact.
Despite being just 300 miles from London, the plane diverted to Ireland. Twelve people had to be brought to the hospital once the plane landed around 6 a.m.
The cause of the incident hasn’t been determined, but the aircraft may have encountered clear air turbulence in the cloudless skies of the upper atmosphere, according to CNN.
Clear air turbulence typically occurs in the cloudless skies of the upper atmosphere.
It’s mostly generated when a plane moves across fast-flowing air currents called jet streams where high-speed winds and slow-moving air traveling in different directions can cause sudden and violent movements to a passing aircraft.
KTRK reports that United Airlines flight 880 was flying from Houston to London with 207 passengers and 13 crew members on board when they encountered a mid-air scare.
The plane hit turbulence just over the Atlantic, which caused it to shake and drop violently. Passengers who weren’t buckled in were thrown out of their seats, while others sustained cuts and bruises from the impact.
Despite being just 300 miles from London, the plane diverted to Ireland. Twelve people had to be brought to the hospital once the plane landed around 6 a.m.
The cause of the incident hasn’t been determined, but the aircraft may have encountered clear air turbulence in the cloudless skies of the upper atmosphere, according to CNN.
Clear air turbulence typically occurs in the cloudless skies of the upper atmosphere.
It’s mostly generated when a plane moves across fast-flowing air currents called jet streams where high-speed winds and slow-moving air traveling in different directions can cause sudden and violent movements to a passing aircraft.