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At least 36 people have been injured after a US plane suffered severe turbulence – with health bosses saying they were grateful no one died.
Eleven people were seriously injured in the terrifying incident aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Honolulu, Hawaii.
Twenty were taken to hospital, including a 14-month-old child, a teenager and three crew members.
At least one person was reportedly knocked unconscious in the “isolated and unusual event” on the Airbus A330-200. All patients were conscious upon arrival at the hospital.
People suffered cuts, including to the head, as well as bumps and bruises.
Some were nauseous and vomiting from extreme movement on the crowded flight, which was carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew.
Passenger Kaylee Reyes told Hawaii News Now that her mother “flew and hit the ceiling.”
She had just sat down when the turbulence hit and did not have a chance to buckle her seat belt.
The crew declared an emergency and the pilot began the descent immediately, with air traffic controllers prioritizing the jet landing.
The troubling incident came on the heels of a thunderstorm weather advisory that included Oahu and areas that would have included the flight path at the time of the incident.
The airline was aware of weather forecasts and volatile weather and weather conditions, said Jon Snook, the airline’s chief operating officer.
But the company was not warned that the particular area of air where the turbulence occurred “was in no way dangerous”, he added.
The seat belt sign was illuminated at the time, but an unknown number of passengers were not wearing them.
Mr Snook said Hawaiian Airlines had not experienced “an incident of this nature in recent history”.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Director Jim Ireland added, “We feel fortunate that there were no fatalities or other serious injuries.
“And we also hope that everyone recovers and recovers fully.”
The aircraft was damaged in the incident and will be subject to inspection and maintenance.
An investigation involving the National Transportation Safety Board has been launched
It is currently unknown how much altitude the aircraft lost during the turbulence.
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