SkyWest flight 5971 was en route from Aspen, Colo., to Houston on Aug. 28, but diverted to Austin after losing altitude.
Two passengers on board a SkyWest Airlines flight were seriously injured after the aircraft experienced “severe turbulence” on Aug. 28, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
SkyWest flight 5971 was en route from Aspen, Colo., to Houston on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 28. But the Embraer E175 diverted to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and “landed safely” around 8 p.m. local time, per the FAA.
According to flight data from FlightAware, about 90 minutes into the trip, the plane dropped nearly 4,000 feet in less than 60 seconds. The aircraft continued to lose altitude for about 10 minutes before it was diverted to Austin.
As the plane made its approach, the pilot informed air traffic control of the condition of the injured passengers.
“We will need a stretcher,” she says in an audio recording obtained by LiveATC.net. “I know that there is bleeding as well.”
The air traffic controller then confirmed emergency services would be present for the landing.
A SkyWest official confirmed the incident to PEOPLE in a statement: “The flight landed safely and was met with medical personnel upon arrival. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard, and we are working with our partner United to assist customers.”
A spokesperson for the airport told PEOPLE that Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) “evaluated 39 passengers and 4 crew members for potential injuries. Two adult patients were transported to area hospitals out of an abundance of caution.”
They added: “ATCEMS reported to the airport that no injuries are expected to be life-threatening.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Austin-Travis County EMS for comment.
Lost month, 25 passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight were hospitalized after their aircraft “encountered significant turbulence” on July 30, according to an airline press release.
Delta flight DL56 was en route to Amsterdam from Salt Lake City when it had to be diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). The Airbus A330-900 landed safely, and medical personnel then evaluated the customers and crew.
The BBC reported that there were 275 passengers and 13 crew members on board the flight at the time of the incident.
Turbulence, according to the FAA, is the regular and frequent movement of air that can affect an aircraft — often occurring unexpectedly and without warning. It is caused by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, cold or warm weather fronts, and thunderstorms. It even happens when skies appear completely clear.
According to a study published by the American Geophysical Union in 2023, the skies are 55% bumpier today than they were 40 years ago. The study also predicts that clear-air turbulence (CAT), a particularly dangerous type of turbulence, will be more frequent in the future.
“The increases in turbulence are consistent with the effects of climate change, according to previous research,” a press release stated at the time. “Warmer air as a result of carbon dioxide emission is increasing wind shear in the jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic and globally.”
“Turbulence makes flights bumpy and can occasionally be dangerous. Airlines will need to start thinking about how they will manage the increased turbulence, as it costs the industry $150 to $500 million annually in the United States alone,” Mark Prosser, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in England, said in the 2023 release.
Credits: SkyWest
