Memphis Weather: A Shocking Emergency Landing After Severe Turbulence

Memphis Weather Conditions Trigger Emergency Landing

Seven people were injured when severe turbulence rocked a United Airlines flight, forcing an emergency landing in Memphis, according to the airline and local emergency responders. The Boeing 737 was en route from Cancún, Mexico, to Chicago on Wednesday when the flight experienced turbulence. The plane first reported the turbulence while flying over Louisiana, as per the Federal Aviation Administration.

A Series of Turbulence-Related Incidents

This incident marks the latest instance of turbulence disrupting commercial flights. In May, a Singapore Airlines flight saw one passenger killed and 71 injured due to severe turbulence. Last week, two crew members on an EasyJet flight from Corfu, Greece, to London were injured during sudden turbulence. Furthermore, last month, 30 passengers were injured on an Air Europa flight from Madrid to Uruguay due to strong turbulence.

Immediate Response and Investigation

United flight 1196 diverted to Memphis after encountering a brief period of severe turbulence while the seatbelt sign was on. Paramedics met the aircraft at the gate and transported one passenger to the hospital. The extent of that passenger’s injuries isn’t clear, but six others declined treatment. There were 179 people on board, including seven crew members. After its stop in Memphis, the flight continued to O'Hare International Airport, arriving two hours late.

While injuries from turbulence are rare, it remains the leading cause of injury to flight attendants and passengers in nonfatal accidents according to the FAA. A study from the University of Reading highlighted that severe turbulence has increased by 55% in the past four decades due to climate change. The FAA is currently investigating the United Airlines incident.