On Wednesday evening, severe turbulence injured 25 passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. The Airbus A330-900, cruising at 37,000 feet over Wyoming, hit turbulence 40 minutes after takeoff, forcing a diversion to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Emergency vehicles met the plane, and the injured were taken to local hospitals. 

Scientists note that severe turbulence is becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, which alters upper-atmosphere temperatures and wind patterns, increasing the likelihood and severity of such incidents. 

Delta's daily Flight 56, operated by a new Airbus A330-900, experienced a sudden 1,000-foot climb in under 30 seconds, followed by a 1,400-foot descent, according to Flightradar24 data. The plane safely landed in Minneapolis about 90 minutes later. The cabin was thrown into chaos. Unbelted passengers hit the ceiling, personal items turned into projectiles, and meal service carts, food, and drinks were flung about as service had just started. Delta stated that medical personnel evaluated passengers and crew upon landing. 

Twenty-five people required hospital care. Passenger Leeann Nash, traveling with her husband, told KSTP the turbulence struck without warning. Experts warn that as climate-driven atmospheric changes continue, such incidents may become even more common, posing growing risks for air travel safety.