22 Passengers Injured as Jetliner Drops Suddenly in Turbulence

Severe turbulence threw an American Airlines flight into a terrifying drop Thursday that slammed passengers and their just-served dinners into the ceiling. At least 22 people were hurt and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing.

Some of the injured on Flight 242 from Seattle to New York arrived at hospitals with white cloths wrapped around their heads. One woman’s white blouse was stained with blood. Another man was wheeled in on a gurney.

Denver Health Medical Center spokesman C.L. Harmer said most of the injured, which included at least one flight attendant and an 11-year-old boy, suffered cuts, and others had scrapes, bruises and sore necks. He said most were expected to be treated and released.

The Boeing 757 with 148 passengers on board hit the severe weather over North Dakota, just as passengers had settled in for dinner.

Passenger Diane Gagon, 43, of Seattle said the plane dropped hundreds of feet in seconds.

“Anyone who didn’t have a seat belt on went flying,” said Gagon, who was treated for a neck injury. “There was not an item of food left on any tray.”

Gene Huddle of Denver, who was not injured, said passengers who weren’t wearing their seat belts “went straight to the ceiling.”

“Nobody was wearing their seat belts,” said Al Mazzari of Hartsdale, N.Y. “It was like running into a brick wall at 600 mph.”

Federal Aviation Administration officials were investigating. Spokesman Mitch Barker said thunderstorms were reported in the area but he did not know how close they were to the jet.

American Airlines mechanics were examining the aircraft to determine whether it was damaged. Meanwhile, the remaining passengers were being flown on another plane to New York’s Kennedy International Airport.