Severe turbulence during a United Airlines flight sent three flight attendents and two passengers to the hospital Monday.
United Airlines flight 1676 left Denver, Colorado, and headed to Billings, Montana around noon on Monday with 114 passengers and five crew members on board. Then, something went wrong. (Via Google Earth)
"There was blood ... A lot of yelling, a lot of screaming. It only lasted probably about 30 seconds. ... It's the most helpless feeling ever." (Via WRC-TV)
According to the Denver Post, the initial drop the plane took was so forceful, "an infant flew from a parent's arms." The baby fortunately landed in a nearby chair and was unharmed.
And one man told a Montana station, he saw a woman hit a ceiling panel so hard it cracked. (Via KTVQ)
Apparently, it was a smooth ride right until the descent. One passenger says the flight crew seemed just as surprised as the passengers about the intense turbulence. (Via ABC)
"They didn't really offer any explanation because of what happened so quickly. I think they were just holding their tongues, basically, to figure out what happened." (Via CNN)
United Airlines released a statement that said in part, "Our primary focus is assisting our employees and passengers who were injured, and our flight safety team will review what happened."
According to United Airlines, all those injured have been released from the hospital except for one flight attendant.
