‘Significant’ turbulence on Delta flight injures 25

Jul 31, 2025 at 07:45 AM CDT

Julia Marshall (Morning Digital Producer), Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter)

More than two dozen people were hospitalized on Wednesday, July 30, after a Delta flight headed to Europe had to make an emergency landing. — Image credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Summary

Emergency landing

A Delta flight traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing in Minneapolis due to turbulence.

Passenger and crew injuries

Officials report that 25 passengers and crew members were hospitalized after the flight. Local paramedics and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport Fire Department evaluated passengers upon landing and transported the injured to area hospitals.

Incident details

Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft experienced rapid changes in altitude, climbing over a thousand feet in 30 seconds and then quickly descending before diverting course to Minneapolis.

Full story

More than two dozen people were hospitalized on Wednesday, July 30, after a Delta flight headed to Europe had to make an emergency landing. Officials said the flight experienced significant turbulence that forced crews to make an emergency landing in Minneapolis.

25 passengers and crew injured

Delta Flight 56 was en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. It diverted to Minneapolis and landed safely just after 7:30 p.m. local time. There were 275 passengers and 31 crew members on board.

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When the Airbus A330 jet landed, local paramedics met the plane to evaluate passengers. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport Fire Department took 25 passengers and crew to area hospitals for further evaluation and care.

Delta did not release additional details regarding injuries.

‘Significant’ turbulence

The turbulence issue occurred approximately 40 minutes after takeoff. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft climbed more than a thousand feet in 30 seconds. It dropped more than 1,300 feet in the next 30 seconds, causing injuries. The flight then re-routed to Minneapolis for an emergency landing.

Delta statement

“We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved,” Delta said in a statement following the incident. “Safety is our no. 1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs.”

Julia Marshall (Morning Digital Producer)

Julia Marshall is a morning digital producer at Straight Arrow News. Thanks to her extensive newsroom experience, Julia has a keen eye for news and extensive experience in writing and editing content across all topics and platforms.

Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter)

Craig Nigrelli is an anchor and reporter for Straight Arrow News.

Devan Markham (Morning Digital Producer) and Jake Larsen (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Delta Air Lines

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

A DELTA FLIGHT HEADED FOR EUROPE WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING… AFTER HITTING VIOLENT TURBULENCE THAT SENT 25 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

DELTA FLIGHT 56 WAS FLYING FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO AMSTERDAM WHEN IT SUDDENLY DIVERTED TO MINNEAPOLIS.

THE AIRLINE SAYS TURBULENCE WAS SEVER ENOUGH TO INJURE DOZENS ON BOARD.

THE AIRBUS A330 MADE A SAFE LANDING JUST AFTER 7:30 P.M., WHERE PARAMEDICS MET THE PLANE AT THE GATE.

TWENTY-FIVE PASSENGERS AND CREW TO TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS.

FLIGHT TRACKING DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED MORE THAN A THOUSAND FEET IN 30 SECONDS, THEN DROPPED JUST AS FAST.. BEFORE CHANGING COURSE TO MINNEAPOLIS.

IN A STATEMENT THE COMPANY SAID: Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs.

Why this story matters

The midair collision near Washington, D.C. highlights persistent safety gaps and coordination issues between civilian and military aviation, prompting scrutiny of oversight practices and renewed calls for airspace safety reforms.

Aviation safety oversight

Failures in identifying and addressing recurring airspace risks are central to the investigation, as highlighted by testimony that Federal Aviation Administration officials did not act on previous warnings about close calls.

Military and civilian airspace coordination

The crash underscores the complexities and risks posed by overlapping flight operations between military and civilian aircraft, exposing confusion over responsibilities, communication breakdowns and differences in equipment and procedures.

Technology and equipment limitations

Inaccurate altitude readings from outdated helicopter equipment, and the limited use of tracking technology, played a significant role in the accident, raising questions about requirements and standards for all aircraft in congested airspace.

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Behind the numbers

Turbulence affected a Delta flight carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew, resulting in 25 hospitalizations. According to the FAA, in 2024 there were 23 serious turbulence injuries in the US, mostly among crew, out of about 35 million annual flights worldwide.

Community reaction

Passengers reported shock and distress, with some describing being thrown from their seats and witnessing service carts and loose items fly through the cabin. Emergency responders promptly provided care and some communities expressed concern about air travel safety.

Context corner

Severe turbulence is a rare but potential hazard in air travel. Multiple sources and experts note that climate change may be contributing to increasingly frequent and intense turbulence events by altering atmospheric conditions such as the jet stream.

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Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left emphasize the human impact and airline response, using emotionally charged phrases like “more than two dozen passengers taken to hospital” and highlighting Delta’s “No. 1 value” as safety, thus fostering a compassionate, reassuring tone focused on care and victimhood.
Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right frame the event within a broader, cautionary narrative linking “severe turbulence” injuries to climate change, invoking scientific warnings and recent fatal incidents to suggest escalating risks.

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Media landscape

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144 total sources

Key points from the Left

Delta Airlines flight DL56 diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport after encountering significant turbulence, as confirmed by a Delta spokesperson.
Twenty-Five out of 275 passengers required hospitalization for injuries sustained during the turbulence, according to the airline.
Medical personnel evaluated the passengers and crew upon arrival, with 25 transported for further care.
The nature and extent of the injuries are unclear at this time, as confirmed by Delta Airlines.

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Key points from the Center

Forced to divert by "significant turbulence," the Delta Air Lines flight DL56 landed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport with 25 passengers hospitalized.
Delta Air Lines said the flight encountered severe turbulence, with Flightradar24 data showing it climbed by more than 1,000 feet and then descended approximately 1,350 feet.
An Airbus A330-900, carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members, was involved in the incident.
Following the emergency landing, Delta said, "We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved" and is supporting affected passengers.
Of over 35 million flights, estimates show around 5,000 turbulence incidents occur annually, with experts warning climate change may be increasing these events.

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Key points from the Right

A Delta Air Lines flight encountered severe turbulence on July 31, 2025, injuring many passengers.
At least 25 injured passengers were hospitalized after the flight was diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul for an emergency landing.
Delta confirmed that medical teams met the flight upon landing for evaluations and treatment of the injured.
The flight DL56 landed safely at approximately 7:25 PM local time, met by medical teams for passenger care.

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