Severe turbulence diverts Avianca flight to Miami; eight hospitalized
An Avianca flight from Medellín, Colombia, to New York was diverted to Miami International Airport early Friday after encountering severe turbulence, leaving nine passengers and crew members affected.
The Airbus A320, bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport, landed safely in Miami shortly after 3 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said one person with severe injuries was taken to a trauma center and seven others were transported by ambulance to area hospitals.
Avianca said the nine people affected included six passengers and three cabin crew members. Eight were hospitalized, while the ninth did not require hospital treatment. The airline activated assistance procedures for those involved.
The flight, identified by Colombia One as AV042, had departed Medellín on Thursday night and was traveling over the Caribbean when …