Severe Turbulence Injures Two Aboard American Flight, Forces Diversion

A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight from Mexico was forced to make a quick diversion to Austin after it was hit by turbulence. A passenger and a member of crew were injured as a result of the incident, but were later released from a local hospital. Severe weather contributed to turbulence in the Austin area.

A Dallas-bound American Airlines flight was forced to make a sudden diversion after it was struck by strong turbulence earlier this week, reports USA Today. American Eagle Flight 5781, which was being operated by Mesa Airlines, was on its way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from the Mexican city of San Luis, Potosi on Wednesday evening when the incident occurred.

The regional jet, reports the outlet, was carrying four members of crew plus 75 passengers. The flight was forced to make a sudden diversion to Austin—Bergstrom International International Airport (AUS) after a crew member and a passenger were injured as a consequence of the intense turbulence.

The outlet states that, according to information obtained from the emergency medical services of Austin-Travis County, both the injured passenger as well as the injured member of crew were treated locally for what have been described as “non-life-threatening” injuries.

Airport officials also stated that the flight’s passengers were offered local hotel accommodation and were processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon landing. The passengers then continued their successful onward journey to DFW on Thursday.

Severe weather – featuring strong gusts of wind, sudden storms and localized flash flooding – passed through the Austin area on Thursday, and is believed to have contributed to the intensity of the turbulence.

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