A Delta flight en route to Amsterdam took a wild turn… and it’s not the kind you want at 38,000 feet. 😬
According to Flightradar24, the turbulence hit late on July 30, shortly after the aircraft departed from Salt Lake City and forced the pilots to make a diversion to Minneapolis.
A sudden drop mid-air
Delta Flight 56, operated by a two-year-old Airbus A330-900neo, departed Salt Lake City in the late afternoon and initially climbed without issue.
But at 11:23 PM UTC (just after midnight in the Netherlands), the flight suddenly encountered severe turbulence, causing it to drop 410 metres in just 30 seconds.
Radar images show other flights in the area avoiding storm activity. However, this particular flight continued through it, leading passenger Stef Rohaan to tell NU.nl he suspects the crew did not anticipate turbulence this strong.
He says the meal service had been postponed earlier, but resumed just before the incident. “That’s when it really hit. Everything started flying through the air,” he says.
Emergency landing after two hours
After encountering turbulence, the aircraft diverted to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and landed safely at 7:51 PM local time. The flight had only been in the air for about two hours.
Delta confirmed that 25 of the 275 passengers on board were taken to local hospitals for evaluation. Flightradar24 reports that the airline describes the turbulence as “significant.”
Het Parool states that no further details about the condition of those injured have been released, while NU.nl adds that it is still unclear whether any Dutch nationals were among them.
What causes turbulence this severe?
Turbulence is a common part of flying and is usually caused by strong winds, rising air, or jet streams.
Meteorologist Matthijs van der Linden explains to NU.nl that an aircraft stays in the air because of the lift created by airflow over the wings.
“If one of the two suddenly changes, for example, due to a jet stream, there will be a sharp decrease or increase in the lift of the wings,” he says.
Sudden pressure changes can lead to violent shaking or a rapid drop in altitude, as experienced by Delta Flight 56.
Have you ever experienced turbulence this severe? Share your experiences in the comments below. 👇
