Seven passengers were hospitalized after a United Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence during an attempted landing at Newark’s Liberty International Airport. The incident prompted an emergency landing at Stewart International Airport in New York’s Orange County. The aircraft, a 787-10 airliner, was carrying 319 people when it experienced the turbulent conditions.
Emergency Response and Passenger Evaluation
New Windsor, N.Y., EMS Chief Michael Bigg reported that emergency responders transported the injured passengers to local hospitals for observation. While approximately 30 passengers were evaluated, only seven required hospitalization, mainly as a precautionary measure. Bigg assured that there were no serious injuries among the passengers, with most seeking medical attention as a precaution.
Investigation and Flight Details
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United Airlines Flight 85 landed safely at Stewart International Airport after the crew reported a passenger medical emergency. The flight originated from Tel Aviv, Israel, and was bound for Newark, New Jersey. The FAA has initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the factors contributing to the severe turbulence.
United Airlines provided limited details, acknowledging one passenger’s deplaning due to a medical incident and a few others receiving medical attention for possible motion sickness. Following the emergency landing at Stewart International Airport, the injured passengers received medical care, and the aircraft underwent refueling before continuing its journey to Newark Liberty International Airport.
Flight Maneuvers and Departure
The flight’s pilots initially attempted to land at Newark Liberty International Airport around 5:35 p.m. EDT. While the landing approach appeared normal as the aircraft descended, the pilots aborted the attempt when the airliner was approximately 350 feet above the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft climbed to 4,200 feet and was redirected to Stewart International Airport, where it safely landed at approximately 6 p.m.
After a brief stay at Stewart International Airport, the aircraft departed for Newark at 8:16 p.m. and landed in New Jersey just 18 minutes later. This incident followed another recent issue for United Airlines, where one of its flights experienced engine trouble shortly after departing from San Francisco en route to Paris, leading to a diversion to Denver. These occurrences have prompted increased FAA scrutiny of United Airlines to ensure compliance with safety regulations.