12 Hurt as Jetliner Takes Sharp Dip in Turbulence

A dozen people were treated at hospitals after a jetliner encountered turbulent weather and took a sharp dip, jostling passengers and slamming some into the ceiling along with food trays, officials and witnesses said today.

Sabena Airlines Flight 534 hit the air pocket about half an hour after leaving Detroit Monday evening, just as people were being served their dinner.

“The plane went down, and everything went up--dishes and everything. The cart with the food went to the ceiling,” passenger Vasily Kchaginas said.

The DC-10, carrying 70 passengers and a crew of eight, landed without further incident at Logan International Airport.

The flight had been scheduled to stop in Boston before continuing to Brussels. Passengers were put in hotels overnight pending departure for Europe today.

Passenger John Shaughnessy, 43, of Flushing, Mich., said he was not sure how big a drop the plane took.

“It might have been 500 feet. We just went boom,” said Shaughnessy, who was flying with his daughter to her wedding in Israel. He said he was wearing his seat belt and was not hurt, “but some people flew into the ceiling.”