Severe turbulence on Delta Airlines flight turbulence made headlines this week after a transatlantic journey from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was suddenly interrupted. The incident, which unfolded Wednesday night, resulted in an emergency landing in Minneapolis and saw 25 people rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent care.
Delta Air Lines Flight 56, an Airbus A330-900, was roughly 40 minutes into its trip when it hit the turbulent airspace while flying over Wyoming. The plane, carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members, experienced a jarring altitude drop of more than 1,000 feet—according to preliminary flight data—sending service carts and unrestrained passengers airborne. The chaos inside the cabin left both travelers and crew members with injuries, several serious enough to require hospitalization.
“It came in three waves. The first one was really bad. The second one was worse, and the third one was incredible… People were flying around. Everything that wasn’t nailed down was up in the air,” described Joseph Carbone, a passenger who recounted the ordeal to reporters.
Upon arrival at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport at around 7:45 p.m. local time, emergency responders converged on the tarmac. Passengers described a scene of confusion and fear, as flight attendants—hit hardest by the turbulence—were seen nearly striking the ceiling, and dozens of fellow passengers screamed amidst the shaking.
Table of Contents
What Happened Mid-Flight?
- Location of turbulence: Over southwestern Wyoming, an area where storm activity and shifting jet streams had been flagged by forecasters earlier that day.
- Altitude change: The aircraft suddenly ascended by 1,000 feet, immediately followed by a dramatic drop.
- Impact: Service carts, loose items, and unbelted individuals went airborne.
- Immediate response: Emergency landing in Minneapolis; 25 people, including seven crew, transported to hospitals.
The Aftermath
Delta confirmed that everyone hospitalized—including all seven injured crew—was treated and released the next day. The airline praised emergency responders for their quick action and reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety. A spokesperson stated, “Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs”.
Several passengers described the terror:
- “It was like an earthquake… I was pretty sure we were crashing,” said one.
- Another shared, “Our flight attendant… she went up in the air.”
Why Is Turbulence Getting Worse?
Experts point out that serious injuries from in-flight turbulence, while historically rare, are becoming more common. Stronger jet streams—intensified by climate change—may be fueling more erratic air patterns, making such incidents harder to predict and avoid.
Modern airliners are engineered to withstand extreme forces, but as former NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt recently emphasized, “If you don’t want to become a ceiling ornament, wear your seat belt.” The majority of those hurt were not buckled in when the turbulence struck.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight Number | DL56 |
| Aircraft Type | Airbus A330-900 |
| Route | Salt Lake City → Amsterdam |
| Incident Date | July 30, 2025 |
| Passengers on Board | 275 |
| Crew on Board | 13 |
| Inhospital Injuries (confirmed) | 25 |
| Emergency Landing Location | Minneapolis-Saint Paul Intl Airport |
| Most Affected | Unbelted passengers, crew |
What’s Next?
Both the FAA and the NTSB have launched investigations to determine the specific causes behind the turbulence encounter and how future incidents might be better anticipated. Delta is cooperating fully with authorities.
As this story continues to unfold, travelers everywhere are reminded to keep seat belts fastened whenever possible—the next bout of turbulence might arrive without warning.
Have you experienced turbulence or unexpected events on a flight? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below or stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.