Preliminary investigation reveals chaotic in-flight ordeal over Wyoming.
Flight Overview
- Airline: Delta Air Lines
- Flight Number: DL56
- Route: Salt Lake City, Utah → Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Date: July 30
- Location of Incident: Over Creston, Wyoming
- Passengers Injured: 24 required medical attention, 18 hospitalized
- Aircraft: Long-haul widebody (model not specified in report)
What Happened
- The flight encountered 2.5 minutes of severe, unexpected turbulence.
- Seatbelt sign was OFF at the time, leaving passengers and crew unprepared.
- Drink carts, passengers, and flight attendants were thrown into the air.
- One passenger reported the plane plunged 1,000 feet during the event.
- Pilots had already attempted to reroute around thunderstorms but still flew into the storm’s worst section.
Forces at Play
- Passengers experienced 1.75 g-force upward (three-quarters of bodyweight).
- Then pulled down with 0.5 g-force (half of bodyweight).
- Left wing dipped up to 40 degrees, alarming passengers.
- Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti described it as: “Like a muscle man grabbing you by the shoulders and pulling you up with all his strength.”
Eyewitness Accounts
- Joseph Carbone (Passenger):
- Reported three major drops during the flight.
- “Each one got worse.”
- Flight attendants serving food were swept off their feet.
- Cabin Response:
- Captain coordinated with crew after the event.
- Relief first officer checked injuries.
- A passenger who was a physician assistant helped with triage.
Investigation Details
- Agency: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Report Findings (Preliminary):
- Flight path placed aircraft directly into storm’s strongest section.
- Pilots may have misjudged severity despite storm avoidance attempts.
- Investigators will assess:
- Why the seatbelt sign was off
- Whether rerouting decisions were adequate
- Crew’s response to turbulence injuries
📌 Key Takeaways
- Severe turbulence can strike suddenly — even after rerouting.
- Seatbelts save lives: passengers not strapped in suffered the worst injuries.
- Investigation remains ongoing; pilots and crew actions under federal review.
