A flight struck by “strong turbulence” made an emergency landing in Brazil, injuring 30 people, according to reports. The Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, en route from Madrid to Montevideo, encountered the turbulence mid-air, the airline stated. Flight UX045 was diverted to Natal in north-eastern Brazil, the Spanish company announced on X.
Upon landing, the 325 passengers onboard were met by a fleet of ambulances. Injured passengers received immediate medical attention, with some transported to the nearest hospital. Local medical teams reported treating at least 30 passengers of various nationalities, with 10 hospitalized due to injuries like cranial fractures and facial cuts from hitting their heads during the turbulence.
The incident, which occurred over the Atlantic near the Brazilian coast, follows a recent severe turbulence event involving a Singapore Airlines flight over Myanmar, resulting in numerous injuries and one fatality. While severe turbulence is rare, studies suggest climate change may be increasing its frequency.
