Delta Flight Plummets, Injuring 25
Federal Agencies Probing Severe Turbulence Incident
A Delta flight experienced extreme turbulence shortly after takeoff, forcing an emergency landing and requiring medical attention for 25 passengers and crew members. The incident is under investigation by aviation authorities.
Turbulence Encounter Forces Diversion
Delta Flight 56, en route from Salt Lake City, encountered severe turbulence about an hour into its journey. The aircraft, at an altitude of approximately 37,000 feet, dropped significantly before recovering. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating the incident, with the Delta crew reporting “severe turbulence.”
25 people onboard Delta flight 56 were taken to hospital after the flight experienced what the airline is calling “significant turbulence” and diverted to Minneapolis. Details and data: https://t.co/MXMV7CHQl8 pic.twitter.com/4WZ9ccRusZ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 31, 2025
Safe Landing and Passenger Care
The plane landed safely at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Airport fire and paramedic services were at the gate to provide immediate medical assistance. Delta has organized a replacement flight for the 275 passengers and 13 crew members to continue their journey to Amsterdam.
Investigation Underway
Delta stated it is cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probe into the event. The FAA indicated it does not broadly track general turbulence reports but does collect data on resulting injuries. In the previous year, 23 individuals, primarily crew members, sustained serious injuries due to turbulence, marking the highest number in available data.
Turbulence remains a persistent safety concern in aviation. In February 2024, a Singapore Airlines flight bound for London experienced extreme turbulence, resulting in one fatality and multiple serious injuries, prompting further analysis of forecasting and mitigation strategies (BBC News, May 2024).