An Avianca flight traveling from Medellín, Colombia, to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport was forced to divert to Miami International Airport early Friday following an encounter with severe turbulence. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, landed safely, but the encounter resulted in injuries to passengers and crew.
Emergency responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were on-site to assist those affected. Reports indicate at least eight individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment. One individual required transport to a trauma center due to the severity of their injuries.
Avianca has confirmed that it is working to rebook unaffected passengers on alternative flights to reach their final destination. The carrier emphasized that it maintains a commitment to operational safety standards for both customers and staff.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently involved in the situation as part of its standard protocol for in-flight incidents. The FAA continues to remind operators and passengers of the importance of maintaining seatbelts fastened whenever possible to mitigate risks during unexpected atmospheric disturbances.