On 1st July 2024, an Air Europa Boeing 787 encountered severe turbulence en route to Montevideo, Uruguay, injuring at least 30 people on board. One of the passengers even got stuck in the overhead luggage compartment.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with registration EC-MTI was operating flight UX45 from Madrid, Spain to Montevideo, Uruguay with 345 people on board. Flight UX45 departed from Madrid on June 30.
However, while the B787 was en route at FL360 over the Atlantic Ocean, it encountered severe turbulence, injuring 30 people on board, as reported by the Aviation Herald.
Following the severe turbulence, flight UX45 diverted to Natal, Brazil, and made an emergency landing at Aluizio Alves International Airport.
One of the passengers got stuck in the overhead luggage compartment due to the turbulence. Footage has surfaced showing the stuck passenger being pulled out from the hand luggage area.
Ten people reportedly hit their heads during the turbulence and had cervical fractures, facial injuries, and chest pain, as reported by the Metropolitan Emergency Medical Service.
Moreover, footage shared on the internet shows the damage to the ceiling panels as well as a broken seat’s backrest.
According to Natal’s State Department of Public Health, the injured ones were taken to local hospitals, and 15 ambulances were dispatched to the airport.
Seven passengers were treated for injuries of varying degrees, in addition to several people with minor bruises.