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An Air Europa flight bound for Uruguay on Monday morning encountered “severe turbulence” and diverted to land in Brazil, injuring several passengers, the airline said.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain on Sunday evening, with its final destination being Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The plane, carrying 325 passengers, encountered severe turbulence early Monday morning..
Video posted on social media showed one passenger being thrown into an overhead bin during the incident and then rescued by other passengers. The airline declined to comment when asked about the video.
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An Air Europa plane lands at Natal International Airport in Brazil on July 1, 2024. (Reuters/Alexandre Lago/Reuters)
The cabin also appeared to have been damaged, with overhead panels either displaced or missing.
“As a result of the incident, seven people sustained injuries of varying severity and several more sustained minor bruising,” an Air Europa official said in a statement to FOX Business. “Due to the nature of the turbulence and for safety reasons, the flight was diverted to Natal International Airport in Brazil.”
Air Europa flight UX45 was able to land normally just after 2:30 a.m. local time.
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An Air Europa flight from Madrid to Montevideo encountered severe turbulence, causing passengers to disembark. (@PICHIPASTOSO VIA X/via REUTERS/Reuters)
Reuters reported that the health ministry of Rio Grande do Norte state, where Natal is located, said 30 passengers were taken to local hospitals with minor abrasions and orthopedic injuries.
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Passengers on Air Europa flight UX045 wait to board a bus to take them to another airport after the flight from Madrid to Montevideo encountered severe turbulence and was diverted. (Reuters/Alexandre Lago/Reuters)
The airline told FOX Business it was working to assist all passengers, including those who were injured.
Authorities will also inspect the plane to determine the extent of the damage.
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Air Europa said a second plane was due to depart Madrid later on Monday carrying passengers to continue the journey to Uruguay.
