Turbulence injuries 30 On Turkish Airlines Flights from Istanbul to New York
NEW YORK (AP) – Serious turbulence threw frightening passengers and crews around a Turkish airboat as it passed over Maine on Saturday, with 30 people hit bumps, bruises, cuts and broken bones before the plane surely landed Yorks John F again. Kennedy International Airport said officials.
Thousands of ambulances lined up in front of a terminal to quickly treat the injured who came from the plane leaving Istanbul for the 10-hour trip.
Spokesman Steve Coleman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told The Associated Press that 28 people were taken to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens after the plane moved down at 1[ads1]7:35 Two went to Queens Hospital Medical Center. An airline suffered a broken bone, Coleman said.
Turkish Airlines Flight 1 hit the turbulence about 45 minutes before landing at JFK, Coleman said. The crew declared an emergency while the Boeing 777 was still in the air, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
"No one advertised it or anything like that so we realized something was wrong," said passenger Sead Nikaj to ABC News. "Then I see people start flying on the plane, then see blood all over. I had one of the ladies next to me, she really fell from her seat on the floor and her whole back was completely bloody, while someone who worked in the plane, she cracked on the leg I think completely. "
Passenger Amir Mehrbakhsh said he saw a man screaming screaming." I think he was like doing a religious song. I continued to hear him say "Jesus," as he was visibly distraught. "
" "It was like one or two seconds when it was subtle, but then it really began to pick up," said Mehrbakhsh. "Just because the drop was so sudden, many people were lifted up and hit their heads either on the ceiling or on the side of the plane, and then there were many injuries quite quickly. "
The Port Authority spokesman said that other aircraft operations were not affected.
Turkish airlines in a statement early Sunday confirmed the flight with 326 passengers and 18 crew members" experienced one Unusual turbulence about 40 minutes before landing "in New York. The airline said it is" deeply saddened by this unfortunate experience and is closely following the health status of injured passengers and making resources available to them. "
That was the second accident on Saturday involving a plane in the New York City area
Earlier in the day, Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily closed its runway after a flight from Montreal to Fort Lau derdale made an emergency landing with smoke in the cargo.
National Weather Service had issued advisories on Saturday warning pilots of expected turbulence.
