Two staff members and 22 passengers were injured when the cross-country flight, from Boston to Sacramento, began experiencing turbulence – eventually plunging suddenly and sending people flying.
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“The flight diverted to Rapid City, South Dakota, and arrived safely at the gate at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time”, a JetBlue spokesperson said in a statement.
Passengers flew out of their seats, with several of them hitting their heads into the ceiling and overhead compartments as the plane dropped violently. In an email to the Globe, Dr. Alan H. Lee, an orthopedic surgeon on Flight 429, said his laptop almost hit the ceiling when the turbulence caused a sudden drop in altitude.
Passenger Rhonda Lynam said the plane began to rock as it went “right through a black cloud”. As warm air is lighter than cool air, it rises while the cool air descends.
Passenger Casey Corcoran told ABC affiliate WCVB that the plane dropped.
Fellow passenger Rhonda Lyman says the scene inside the aircraft was “like a movie” with people “thrown around like little rag dolls” in the cabin.
He also said he’d overheard that “a wild weather pocket caused a downdraft” that caused the plane to “fall 3000-4000ft (900m-1200m) in one shot”. RCH Regional are the best, ‘ she said.
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Dozens of passengers have been hospitalised after severe turbulence hit a domestic flight in the US.
