Eight passengers were hospitalized after turbulence forced an Avianca Airlines flight heading to New York City to divert to Miami, according to local officials and the airline. Greg Chin, the communications director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, stated that Avianca Flight 042, traveling from Medellin, Colombia, to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, landed in Miami at 3:30 a.m. Eight passengers were taken to a nearby hospital, although their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Avianca mentioned in a statement that the flight encountered unexpected turbulence during its journey, leading to its diversion to Miami International Airport as a precaution following safety protocols. The airline confirmed that three crew members and six passengers were affected, but did not specify who was hospitalized. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department reported transporting one person to the main trauma center and seven others to local hospitals via private ambulances after responding to a medical call at 3:10 a.m. due to reports of turbulence on an aircraft.
Footage aired by local media showed multiple fire department vehicles with flashing lights on the tarmac at Miami airport. A passenger, Maria Paula Jimenez, described the scene as abnormal upon landing in Miami, noting the presence of numerous ambulances. The flight was rescheduled to depart for JFK International Airport at 8:15 a.m. with the remaining passengers, as confirmed by Chin. Avianca Flight 042 departed as scheduled, and arrangements were made for unaffected passengers to proceed to New York while the airline continued to provide support to those affected.
Avianca assured that the safety of customers and employees remained their top priority as they managed the situation.