Severe turbulence causes plane to descend 1,000+ metres in seconds
The flight to Houston, Texas, diverted for medical attention after the severe turbulence on Thursday
Several passengers were reportedly injured Thursday evening after a plane from Colorado to Texas encountered severe turbulence during a nearby thunderstorm.
Flight tracking data indicate that the plane descended as much as 1,300 metres in about one minute during the event.
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United Express Flight 5971, operated by SkyWest Airlines, took off from Aspen, Colorado, on Thursday afternoon to carry passengers to Houston, Texas. The aircraft passed through an area of unsettled weather as it entered northern Texas a little after 7:00 p.m. local time.
Data gathered by flight tracking company Flightradar24 showed the plane flying steady at a cruising altitude of about 11,900 metres (39,000 feet) until it encountered severe turbulence near a thunderstorm northwest of Fort Worth, Texas.
The flight rapidly descended to around 11,300 metres (37,000 feet) in about 30 seconds. All told, the plane lost more than 1,300 metres (4,000 feet) of altitude in just over one minute.
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Flight 5971 diverted to Austin, Texas, after the incident. “Two adults were taken to the hospital as a precaution,” KRIV-TV reported on Friday, quoting airport officials.
Turbulence occurs when an aircraft flies through pockets of moving air. The phenomenon is most common while passing over mountains or near thunderstorms, though turbulence is also possible during clear conditions.
While aircraft are built to withstand even severe turbulence, a bumpy ride can pose a serious risk to the safety of passengers in the cabin. Passengers are advised to secure their belongings and keep their seatbelts fastened at all times during a flight in case of sudden turbulence.
Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva. Contains files from KRIV-TV.