A United Airlines flight from Cancun, Mexico to Chicago, Illinois, was forced to make an emergency landing in Memphis, Tennessee on August 28, 2024, after encountering severe turbulence over Louisiana. The unexpected turbulence injured seven passengers, one of whom was transported to a local hospital in non-critical condition. The remaining six injured passengers declined medical attention.
United Flight 1196, a Boeing 737-900 carrying 172 passengers and seven crew members, was cruising over Louisiana when it was suddenly struck by severe turbulence. The incident occurred while the seatbelt sign was on, and passengers experienced intense shaking, prompting the pilot to divert the flight to Memphis International Airport.
The plane landed safely at 2:50 p.m. local time, where paramedics waited to assist the injured passengers. According to the Memphis Fire Department, the hospitalized passenger was in non-critical condition. The extent of the injuries sustained by the other passengers remains unclear, but they were described as minor.
“We’re grateful to our crew for their efforts to ensure the safety of our employees and customers,” a United Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. The flight resumed its journey a few hours later and arrived safely in Chicago.
Though relatively rare, severe turbulence incidents have been on the rise in recent years. A study highlighted by Fox Business suggests that clear-air turbulence, without visual warning signs like clouds, has increased significantly due to climate change. The study found a 55% increase in clear-air turbulence over the North Atlantic between 1979 and 2020, with projections indicating that turbulence will more than double by 2050 in the mid-Northern Hemisphere.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has investigated the incident to determine the exact cause of the turbulence and assess any contributing factors. The FAA’s investigation will likely include reviewing weather data, aircraft performance, and crew response during the event.
Passengers on the flight described the turbulence as brief but intense. Passenger Tyeisha Jefferson initially thought the plane was landing, but realizing it wasn’t, she raised the window blinds and began praying for help.
Another passenger, Patrick Froh, described the experience, stating that the turbulence was so severe that the flight attendant nearly hit the ceiling. Froh added that many passengers were injured, and food was thrown everywhere, leaving stains on clothes and covering the ceiling. He noted that it was one of the most traumatic experiences he had ever encountered on a flight.
Like other carriers, United Airlines regularly advises passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened at all times while seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off. This precaution is emphasized due to the unpredictable nature of clear-air turbulence, which can occur without warning and cause sudden and violent aircraft movements.
