Twenty airline passengers are suing Delta Air Lines after more than 25 passengers and crew members were hospitalized due to severe turbulence during a flight from Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The incident occurred over Wyoming on July 30, 2025, causing the plane to make an emergency landing in Minnesota after a harrowing “2.5 minutes of terror.”
Following the unexpected landing, 25 individuals were taken to hospitals for treatment, as confirmed by Delta Air Lines. The lawsuit, filed by 20 passengers in Utah’s 3rd District Court, alleges that the pilots negligently flew too close to a thunderstorm despite receiving warnings about hazardous weather conditions and observing other planes changing routes.
According to the lawsuit, the passengers endured injuries ranging from head trauma to broken bones and lasting psychological effects. The Aviation Law Group emphasized that the incident could have been prevented and criticized the airline’s decision-making process. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation revealed that the pilots were unprepared for the storm, although the National Weather Service had issued severe weather advisories along the flight path.
The lawsuit questions the pilots’ judgment in navigating through the storm and their choice to divert to Minnesota instead of closer airports, which added significant time to the already distressing flight. Seeking compensation and a trial, the passengers are demanding accountability from Delta Air Lines for the traumatic experience. The Mirror has reached out to Delta for comments.
