4 on Plane Hurt by Turbulence; Jet Turns Back
A Tahiti-bound jetliner with 120 people aboard returned to Los Angeles International Airport early Friday after encountering turbulence that rocked the plane and caused minor injuries to three flight attendants and one passenger, officials said.
Continental Airlines Flight 11, a DC-10 headed for Papeete, was hit by turbulence at about 3:15 a.m., 90 minutes after it took off from Los Angeles International. The plane, which was to continue on to Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia, was cruising at 35,000 feet with 109 passengers and 11 crew members, airline spokesman David Messing said.
The attendants and a woman passenger suffered sprained ankles and stubbed toes, Messing said. None of the injuries required hospitalization, but because the attendants were incapacitated, the plane’s captain returned to Los Angeles, he said.
Messing said Continental put the passengers up at an airport-area hotel while seats on other flights were arranged.
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