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A United Airlines flight bound for Chicago was rerouted to Tennessee due to extreme turbulence on Wednesday, according to the airline. During the incident, seven passengers sustained injuries, with one requiring hospitalization.
The incident occurred on Flight UA1196, which briefly encountered intense turbulence in the afternoon while the seatbelt sign was illuminated, United Airlines reported. Officials stated that the pilot noted the turbulence while flying over Louisiana and subsequently made a safe landing at Memphis International Airport at approximately 2:40 p.m. CT.
Emergency medical services awaited the aircraft at Memphis, where they transported one injured passenger to the hospital. The Memphis Fire Department noted that this individual’s injuries were not critical. Six other passengers, also hurt, opted out of further medical care, and details regarding their injuries were not disclosed.
United Airlines commended its crew for prioritizing passenger and staff safety during the ordeal. The plane, a Boeing 737-900, was traveling from Cancun International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport with 172 passengers and seven crew members on board. The aircraft resumed its journey to Chicago later that evening.
The Federal Aviation Administration has stated that it is conducting an investigation into the incident.