CNN
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A Miami-bound Scandinavian Airways flight was pressured to return to Europe on Thursday after encountering extreme turbulence over Greenland, in line with the airline.
No extreme accidents have been reported amongst passengers or crew on flight SK957, the airline mentioned in an announcement to CNN Friday. There have been 254 passengers onboard the aircraft, the assertion mentioned.
The aircraft was rerouted to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark the place it’ll endure an inspection, in line with the airline.
“Following such turbulence, normal security procedures require a radical inspection of the plane,” the assertion mentioned.
“Since SAS do not need the required services and workers for this stage of inspection in MIA, we determined to reroute the plane to Copenhagen (CPH), the place each hangar house and certified technicians have been accessible,” the airline mentioned.
Flying the aircraft to Miami would end in it being grounded “for an prolonged interval, resulting in a number of cancellations,” the assertion added.
Social media pictures from the aircraft present objects scattered on the aircraft’s ground due to the turbulence.
One passenger, Sammy Solstad, informed CNN he feels fortunate to be alive.
“Everybody on the aircraft was praying and asking to only land as an alternative of flying over the open sea,” Solstad mentioned Friday.
A girl who was seated close to him didn’t have her seatbelt on when the turbulence began, in line with Solstad.
“She flew as much as the ceiling as you possibly can see a little bit of within the video after which fell” to the ground, Solstad mentioned.
Passengers have been met by a “particular help group” upon arrival in Copenhagen the place they have been “assisted with rebooking,” the assertion mentioned. Passengers have been positioned in a resort in a single day and have now been booked on different flights, in line with the airline.
Turbulence is the main reason behind injuries to flight attendants and passengers in nonfatal accidents on business airways, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, however incidents are nonetheless uncommon. From 2009 to 2023, 37 passengers and 146 crew members have been severely injured resulting from turbulence, knowledge from the Nationwide Transportation Security Board reveals.