MIAMI – Several people were injured Friday after an American Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence while it was on its way to Miami International Airport.
Authorities said six people were injured after the plane, which took off from LaGuardia Airport in New York at 8:08 a.m., experienced turbulence that appeared to be due to bad weather.
"People were screaming, they were afraid, children were crying," passenger Rosemarie Aveloo told Local 10 News.
A Federal Aviation Administration representative said the plane fr experienced turbulence at an altitude of about 34,000 feet near Vero Beach.
"American Airlines Flight 1410 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Miami briefly encountered severe turbulence approximately 40 minutes prior to landing. The seatbelt sign was on at the time," American Airlines said in a statement. "The flight landed without incident and safely taxied to the gate. Five passengers were evaluated by paramedics on arrival and were released. One flight attendant was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation."
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the flight attendant was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center. The extent of the employee's injuries was not immediately released.
An airline representative said six crew members and 159 passengers were on the Boeing 737, which landed at MIA at 11:30 a.m.
Other flights also experienced similar turbulence in the area, including one flight from Orlando.
"We just kind of flew out of our seats and grabbed each other's hand because we were freaking out," passenger Chantelle Lamoureux said.