One hundred and eleven people were seriously injured in turbulence that occurred on a Hawaiian Airlines flight.
The flight was carrying 278 passengers and 10 staff and had just left Phoenix, USA. It was only 30 minutes from Honolulu, when severe turbulence struck.
According to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, 36 people received treatment for injuries, including a severe head injury, bruises and lacerations and loss of consciousness.
Twenty-eight of the injured were transported to hospital. Eleven are in serious condition, nine are stable.
Sixteen people were treated at airport.
The youngest patient was only 14 months old.
Kaylee Reyes, a passenger on the flight, said that her mother had just returned from her seat when the turbulence struck.
She didn’t have time to put on her safety belt before she “flew upwards and hit the ceiling”, Ms Reyes stated.
Hawaiian Airlines reported that 13 passengers and three crew members were admitted to the hospital. However, it is unclear why they were not treated in the same way as emergency personnel.
The airline stated that it was supporting all passengers and employees affected by the crisis and is continuing to monitor the situation.
According to the US National Weather Service a strong cold front was moving through Hawaii bringing heavy rains and flooding.
Thomas Vaughan, a NWS meteorologist, stated that there was a weather advisory for thunderstorms. This advisory included Oahu as well as areas that would have been in the flight path at that time.
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