Eight passengers were hospitalized after an Avianca Airlines flight heading to New York City had to make an emergency landing in Miami due to turbulence, according to local officials and the airline. The flight, Avianca Flight 042, traveling from Medellin, Colombia, to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, landed at Miami International Airport at 3:30 a.m. Miami time.
Greg Chin, the communications director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, confirmed that eight passengers were taken to a nearby hospital. The current condition of the injured passengers is not immediately known.
Avianca stated that the flight experienced unexpected turbulence during the journey. As a precaution and following safety protocols, the flight was redirected to Miami International Airport, where it landed safely. The airline mentioned that three crew members and six passengers were affected, without specifying who was taken to the hospital.
The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department reported transporting one individual to the main trauma center while seven others were taken to local hospitals by private ambulances. At 3:10 a.m., eight MDFR units responded to a medical call regarding turbulence on an aircraft.
Passenger Maria Paula Jimenez described the situation as abnormal, noting the presence of multiple ambulances upon landing in Miami. The flight was scheduled to resume its journey to JFK International Airport at 8:15 a.m. Friday with the remaining passengers. The airport’s flight tracker indicated that Avianca Flight 042 departed at the scheduled time.
Avianca assured that arrangements were made for the remaining passengers to reach New York while staying in contact with the affected passengers and crew. The airline emphasized its commitment to prioritizing the safety of customers and employees throughout its operations.
