A Boeing aircraft has been forced into an emergency landing in Brazil, after dozens of passengers on the plane sustained injuries due to extreme turbulence.
About 30 people were taken to hospital after the compelled landing by the Air Europa flight said to be from the capital of Spain, Madrid.
The aircraft was originally due to land in Montevideo, Uruguay, but it had to do the emergency landing in Natal airport, Brazil, at about 2.30am local time on Monday, according to reports which surfaced on Tuesday.
Photographs and video clips shown online have shown passengers being treated for injuries.
The ceiling of the aircraft and some seats were also seen to be damaged.
What They’re Saying
The airline, while giving an account of the incident had said:
“Our flight bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal due to strong turbulence. The plane landed normally and those injured of varying severity are already being treated.”
Meanwhile, health officials in Brazil have confirmed through a statement that 30 passengers who sustained “minor abrasions or orthopaedic traumas” had to be taken to hospitals in Natal.
Why It Matters
This particular incident is reminiscent of the Singapore Airlines flight from London en route Singapore which injured 20 passengers and killed an elderly British man.
Some scientists have reported that the two recent incidents are as a result of plane turbulence and it would get worse due to climate change.
