Delta Flight Diverted to Minneapolis After Severe Turbulence, 25 Injured

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MINNEAPOLIS— A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight en route to Amsterdam (AMS) made an emergency landing at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP) on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, after encountering severe midair turbulence.

Flight 56, which departed Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), was diverted approximately two hours into its scheduled nine-hour journey. The Airbus A330-900 landed safely at MSP at 19:45 local time, where medical teams were waiting to assess the condition of passengers and crew.

Delta SLC-AMS Flight Turbulence

Delta Flight 56, operating with 275 passengers and 13 crew members on board, encountered what the airline described as “significant” turbulence shortly after departure.

The aircraft had taken off from Salt Lake City at 16:30 local time and was cruising toward Amsterdam when conditions deteriorated rapidly, prompting the crew to reroute for an emergency landing.

According to FlightRadar24 data, Delta flight DL56 took off from Salt Lake City at 22:45 UTC. After being airborne for over two hours, the flight was diverted to MSP and landed safely at 00:51 UTC.

The flight was operated by an Airbus A330-900, registered as N422DZ. Further, it is a 2.3-year-old aircraft powered by two Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent 7000 engines.

Upon arrival at Minneapolis–St. At Paul International Airport (MSP), medical personnel boarded the plane to evaluate injuries. Twenty-five passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment.

Delta Air Lines (DL) released a statement confirming it is actively assisting affected passengers with their immediate needs. It said:

Delta flight DL56 – flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam – diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Wednesday after the flight encountered significant turbulence while enroute.

The aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, landed safely at MSP, and medical personnel met the flight upon arrival to evaluate customers and crew. Twenty-five of those on board were transported to local hospitals for evaluation and care. We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved.

Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs.

Delta Official Statement

Severity of Turbulence

Turbulence, especially of the severe category, remains one of the leading causes of in-flight injuries.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), since 2009, the U.S. has recorded 207 cases of serious turbulence-related injuries, which are defined as those requiring hospital stays longer than 48 hours.

Severe turbulence exerts more than 1.5g-force, which is sufficient to lift unbuckled passengers from their seats. Despite being rare compared to the global volume of air traffic—more than 35 million flights annually—severe turbulence accounts for roughly 5,000 incidents each year.

Aircraft like the Airbus A330-900, used in this incident, are designed to handle such conditions structurally. However, the unpredictability of atmospheric disturbances can still pose risks to passengers who are not wearing seatbelts at the time of impact.

Similar Incidents

There’s a rise in turbulence-related incidents and accidents across the world. If you want to read more about the most turbulent global routes, click here: Most Turbulent Flight Routes in the World.

Lufthansa (LH) flight LH511 from Buenos Aires (EZE) to Frankfurt (FRA) encountered extreme turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in injuries to 11 individuals on board.

The Boeing 747-8, carrying 329 passengers and 19 crew members, landed safely at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on November 12, 2024, at 10:53 a.m. local time. According to Lufthansa, five passengers and six crew members sustained mostly minor injuries.

The turbulence struck as the aircraft passed through the Intertropical Convergence Zone, an equatorial region known for unstable weather. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated a dramatic speed drop from 511 knots (588 mph) to 180 knots (280 mph) within one minute before stabilizing at 517 knots

Other Recent Turbulence Incidents

Several other airlines have recently reported severe turbulence incidents, underscoring growing safety concerns:

Air Canada (AC19): A Boeing 787-9 from Vancouver (YVR) to Singapore (SIN) faced major turbulence over the North Pacific on October 11, 2024, two hours into the flight. Passengers and items were thrown around the cabin due to sudden drops.
American Airlines (AA): A domestic flight from Tampa (TPA) to Charlotte (CLT) encountered violent air currents on August 8, 2024. Two flight attendants were injured. The FAA has since launched an investigation.
Singapore Airlines (SQ): A flight from London to Singapore on May 20, 2024, faced turbulence over Thailand, reportedly due to an air pocket. The Boeing 777-300ER sustained significant cabin disruptions.

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