DENVER — Passengers were thrown from their seats, drinks and loose items flew through the cabin and oxygen masks dropped from overhead when a United Airlines jetliner took a harrowing drop amid severe turbulence on a cross-country flight.
A witness said a woman was thrown out of her seat and hit her head against the ceiling. Another hit her head on the wall, leaving a crack near a window.
“Everyone was quite panicked,” 19-year-old Kaoma Bechaz said Wednesday, one day after United Flight 967 hit turbulence over southwest Missouri. At least 22 people were hurt, but none of the injuries appeared serious.
Federal authorities are investigating the incident and said it was a top priority to figure out what happened. It marked the third time passengers have been injured in turbulence on United flights in recent months.
The flight had left Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., with 255 passengers and 10 crew members and was headed for Los Angeles. It was at about 34,000 feet when it hit turbulence 90 miles from Kansas City, Mo.
The plane was diverted to Denver International Airport, where it landed safely around 7:45 p.m. and was met by medical crews.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 07/22/2010