A United Airlines flight bound for Houston encountered severe turbulence, forcing an emergency landing in Waco, Texas, on Sunday (March 2). Five passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
SkyWest flight 5690 took off from Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri at 4:48 p.m. with 29 passengers and three crew members. As the plane flew over Texas, it encountered a band of severe storms, which is believed to have caused the turbulence.
The plane landed safely at Waco Regional Airport and was met by emergency responders. Paramedics checked out the passengers and crew members, sending five people to the hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not disclosed but were said not to be life-threatening.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident to determine any underlying causes and prevent future occurrences. This is the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft.
Earlier in the day, a plane was forced to return to Boston shortly after takeoff because of a “smoky odor” in the cabin. On Saturday, a FedEx cargo plane struck a bird during takeoff, causing the engine to burst into flames.
There were also a few near-misses last month when planes were forced to abort landing to avoid crashing into another plane on the runway.
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