JetBlue Flight Experiences ‘Severe Turbulence’ Leading To Eight Hospitalizations

Eight people have been hospitalized as a result of severe turbulence on a JetBlue flight.

JetBlue flight 1256, which flew from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, experienced heavy turbulence when it neared its Florida destination. The plane managed to land safely and was immediately met by medical personnel after touching down.

According to JetBlue, seven customers and one inflight crewmember were then taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. It is not known of the severity of the injuries. JetBlue has also taken out the aircraft of service for inspection.

Turbulence has caused several incidents this year alone. A Lufthansa flight from Austin to Frankfurt had to make an emergency landing at a Washington, D.C., airport in March, which led to seven hospitalizations. Eleven people were also injured by a Delta fight from Milan to Atlanta last month.

The National Transportation Security Board announced an investigation into the flight on Monday afternoon.

“NTSB has opened an investigation into today’s turbulence incident that occurred on JetBlue #1256, an Airbus A320, during a cruise flight near Jamaica while en route from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Numerous injuries reported,” the NTSB newsroom said in a tweet.