Nine people were injured early Friday, and eight were taken to hospitals, after severe turbulence struck an aircraft bound for New York’s Kennedy Airport, forcing a diversion to Miami.
Avianca Flight 42 was en route to New York from Medellín, Colombia, when it “encountered unexpected turbulence,” Reyna Figueroa, a spokeswoman for the airline, said in a statement.
The aircraft landed at Miami International Airport around 3:25 a.m., according to FlightRadar24, a tracking site.
Three cabin crew members and six passengers were injured during the turbulence, Ms. Figueroa said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in a statement that it had transported eight people, one to a trauma center and seven to local hospitals. Officials did not comment on the condition of the injured passengers and crew.
Videos published by local news stations in Miami showed passengers holding ice packs to their heads and being transported on stretchers.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the incident.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320, departed Medellín at 11:22 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to FlightRadar24. It had been scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Airport around 5:20 a.m. on Friday, and it flew north over Jamaica and Cuba at an altitude of about 36,000 feet before diverting.
It was not immediately clear exactly where the turbulence occurred or how long it lasted.
Ms. Figueroa said the A320 had a capacity of 190 passengers, though the exact number of passengers and crew on board the flight was not yet clear.
The remaining passengers were loaded onto a replacement aircraft in Miami and flown to New York on Friday morning, arriving at Kennedy Airport at 10:50 a.m.
Ms. Figueroa said that “the original aircraft is undergoing the appropriate safety and maintenance inspections.”
“Avianca remains in contact with the affected passengers and crew members,” she said.
Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2026.
The post 9 Injured After J.F.K.-Bound Flight Hits Severe Turbulence appeared first on New York Times.
