Delta Air Lines Flight 56 from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam encountered severe turbulence over Wyoming on July 30, 2025, forcing an emergency diversion to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and sending 25 people to hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
The Airbus A330-900 aircraft carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members departed Salt Lake City International Airport at 4:45 p.m. local time and was bound for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol when it encountered what the airline described as significant turbulence approximately 45 minutes into the flight.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 38,075 feet at 11:23 p.m. UTC before dropping to a minimum altitude of 35,775 feet during the turbulence event. The flight landed safely in Minneapolis at 12:51 a.m. UTC on July 31, or approximately 7:45 p.m. local time on July 30.
Passenger William Webster, who indicated he takes approximately 80 flights annually, described the experience as the most severe turbulence he had encountered. Webster reported witnessing beverage carts being thrown into the aircraft ceiling, with glass bottles shattering throughout the cabin. He compared the sensation to riding a 300-foot roller coaster drop where passengers become completely airborne in their seats.
Another passenger, Leeann Nash, reported that dinner service had just begun when the turbulence struck without warning. Nash indicated that passengers without seatbelts were thrown against the ceiling before falling to the floor, and she observed heavy service carts similarly launched upward during the incident. Nash noted, “There were glass bottles flying around.”
Joseph Carbone, traveling with his wife, reported believing the aircraft might crash during the turbulence. Carbone described the incident occurring in three distinct waves of increasing severity and observed a flight attendant nearly colliding with the cabin ceiling. He indicated the pilot apologized over the intercom, explaining they were flying above the altitude where most storms typically occur and the turbulence was unexpected.
Nollene Jensen, whose husband was among those hospitalized, described witnessing passengers becoming airborne within the aircraft cabin. Her husband, who had previously undergone neck fusion surgery, was injured when he was thrown upward after unbuckling his seatbelt. Jensen reported that her husband was among the 25 individuals transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation.
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Fire Department and emergency medical services responded to the aircraft upon arrival, providing initial medical attention at the gate. Of the 25 individuals hospitalized, seven were crew members. All seven crew members were treated and released by Thursday morning, according to Delta’s statement. The airline indicated that all passengers who were evaluated at hospitals and shared their status with the company had also been released by noon on July 31.
Delta coordinated immediate assistance for affected passengers, including hotel accommodations and meal arrangements. The airline’s Care Team reached out directly to passengers to address their immediate needs and coordinate continued travel to Amsterdam. A special replacement flight was arranged for Thursday evening to allow passengers to complete their journey to their original destination.
High-resolution radar data from the time of the incident shows active storm systems in the area, with multiple aircraft in the region taking evasive action to avoid weather conditions. The turbulence occurred over southwestern Wyoming, an area that had been identified by federal aviation forecasters as a potential trouble spot earlier that day.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have launched investigations into the incident. Delta confirmed it is cooperating fully with the NTSB investigation.
Aviation attorney Steven Marks indicated that passengers may be entitled to compensation under international aviation conventions, despite the flight never leaving United States airspace. Marks suggested that passengers could potentially receive up to $250,000 in damages, with the airline’s insurance likely covering liability costs rather than Delta directly.
The two-year-old aircraft involved in the incident, registered as N422DZ, was delivered new to Delta in early 2023. Following the emergency landing, the aircraft remained in Minneapolis while passengers and crew received medical attention and alternative travel arrangements were made.
