An Air Europa Boeing plane made an emergency landing in Brazil on Monday after several people were injured by ‘strong turbulence’ on a flight from Madrid to Montevideo in Uruguay, with videos on social media showing one passenger rescued from the overhead luggage compartment.
The 787-9 Dreamliner was diverted to the airport of Natal in northeastern Brazil on its way to the Uruguayan capital, the Spanish company said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that passengers who suffered injuries ‘are receiving attention’.
Uruguay’s foreign ministry said in a statement that passengers in need of medical attention were taken to the Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel hospital in Natal. Several have already been discharged.
One passenger was propelled into the plane cabin’s ceiling and was seen being rescued through the overhead luggage compartment in videos posted online.
Media reports suggested that between 25 and 30 people were injured, but the number was not final.
Air Europa said a plane will leave from Madrid later Monday to pick up the passengers in Natal and continue the journey to Uruguay.
In May, a 73-year-old British man died and several other passengers and crew suffered skull, brain and spine injuries when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence on a flight from London and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Monday’s incident was the latest drama involving a Boeing plane, after a fuselage panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
✈️ Incidente vuelo UX45 de Air Europa
— Pato Aviador (@PatoAviador) July 1, 2024
Un Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) de Air Europa, matrícula EC-MTI, que cubría la ruta Madrid-Montevideo con 345 personas a bordo, se topó hace unas horas con una “fuerte turbulencia” cuando se encontraba en ruta sobre el Océano Atlántico volando… pic.twitter.com/ufzuZX5qoT
✈️ DRAMÁTICO
— Eduardo Preve (@EPreve) July 1, 2024
🛬Pasajero atravesó techo de avión de Air Europa con destino a Montevideo que se metió en una turbulencia y debió aterrizar de emergencia en Brasil.
🧳El pasajero debió salir del techo por la zona de equipaje de mano.
👨✈️Videos pic.twitter.com/wsBzhicADK
Nuestro vuelo UX045 con destino a Montevideo se ha desviado al aeropuerto de Natal (Brasil) a causa de fuertes turbulencias. El avión ha aterrizado con normalidad y los heridos de diversa consideración que se registraron ya están siendo atendidos.
— Air Europa (@AirEuropa) July 1, 2024
Sign up for the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Click here for the latest Spain in English Special Wine Club Offer.
Please support Spain in English with a donation.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.
