22 Hurt As Plane Drops Suddenly In Bad Weather Jet Flying From Seattle To New York Makes Emergency Landing In Denver

At least 22 people traveling on a cross-country American Airlines flight were injured Thursday when severe turbulence caused the plane to drop suddenly and forced an emergency landing.

The injuries occurred on Flight 242 from Seattle to New York, said American spokeswoman Andrea Rader. The victims were transported to four Denver area hospitals for evaluation.

C.L. Harmer, a spokeswoman for Denver Health Medical Center, where 10 of the injured were taken, said all 22 are in fair condition with head lacerations, abrasions, bruises and sore necks. Most are expected to be treated and released, representatives of the hospitals said.

Some of the injured walked into Denver Health with white cloths wrapped around their heads. One woman’s white blouse was stained with blood. A man was wheeled into the hospital on a gurney.

The injured included at least one flight attendant and a 53-year-old woman, Denise Young, from Hong Kong. Her son, 11-year-old William Young, also was hurt.

The Boeing 757 took off from Seattle with 148 passengers on board and hit severe turbulence over southwestern North Dakota about two hours into the flight. The plane then landed at Denver International Airport.

Passengers said they had settled in for a meal when the turbulence hit without warning.

“We were flying smoothly, dinner was being served, and nobody was wearing their seat belts,” said Al Mazzari, 58, of Hartsdale, N.Y.

“The seat belt sign was turned off and we hit a free air pocket,” he said. “It was like running into a brick wall at 600 mph.”

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

Mazzari, returning with his wife from Alaska, said he hit the baggage rack and cut his head. The laceration required eight stitches.

Diane Gagon, 43, of Seattle, said she was told the plane had dropped 1,500 feet in three 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.”

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

Gagon said American was paying for hotel rooms for the victims and planned to put them on other flights today.

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

The National Weather Service reported 2-inch hail and heavy rain at Medora in southwestern North Dakota late Thursday afternoon.

“Any time you have thunderstorms, you have a lot of turbulence,” said meteorologist Eric Carpenter in Bismarck, N.D.