Severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean tossed passengers and crew around a Turkish Airlines plane cabin on Saturday, with at least 30 people suffering bumps, bruises, cuts and a broken leg before the flight landed safely at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, officials said.
Dozens of ambulances lined up in front of an airport terminal to quickly treat the injured coming off the flight that left Istanbul for the 10-hour trip.
Spokesman Steve Coleman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told The Associated Press that 28 people were taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens after the plane touched down at 5:35 p.m. Two went to Queens Hospital Medical Center. A flight attendant suffered a broken leg, Coleman said.
Turkish Airlines Flight 1 flew into the “extreme turbulence” about 45 minutes before landing at JFK, Coleman said. The crew declared an emergency while the Boeing 777 was still in the air, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Port Authority spokesman said other airport operations were not affected.
The plane was carrying 326 passengers and 21 crew. Turkish Airlines officials were not immediately available for comment.
It was the second mishap on Saturday involving a plane in the New York metropolitan area.
Earlier in the day, Newark Airport temporarily closed its runways after a flight from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale made an emergency landing with smoke in its cargo hold .
The National Weather Service had issued advisories on Saturday warning pilots of expected turbulence.
FDNY: up to 32 patients being treated at JFK. FAA: Turkish Airlines Flight 1, Boeing 777, landed safely at 5:35 p.m. after declaring aemergency and reporting that several passengers were injured when the aircraft encountered turbulence. @NY1 pic.twitter.com/q9QedSMQQc
— Van Tieu (@Van_Tieu) March 10, 2019
WATCH: passengers with bloodied faces; blood smeared on overhead cabin. 29 injured from severe turbulence on Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul landing at JFK Airport tonight; gashes on heads to a broken leg. 10 people taken to hospital. Video courtesy Sead Nikaj pic.twitter.com/6SbhkGuqkp
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) March 10, 2019
#FDNY is currently treating 32 passengers with non-life-threatening injuries at JFK airport. FDNY EMS is working with Port Authority on scene, and the situation is developing.
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 10, 2019
#FDNY confirms total patients treated at JFK Airport following a turbulent flight have been downgraded to 29 non-life-threatening injuries. FDNY continues to operate on scene.
— FDNY (@FDNY) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1104540591822647297?s=19
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Given that some passengers were literally tossed from ceiling to floor, and given that this transpired on Shabbos, it is safe to assume that R’L some Jewish people were on this flight receiving immediate form of Sekila for their Chillul Shabbos.