MIAMI — A Continental Airlines jet carrying 179 people from Brazil to Texas hit severe turbulence over the Atlantic early Monday, injuring at least 26 — including four seriously — and forcing an emergency landing in Miami, officials said.
One passenger said he felt Continental Flight 128 drop without warning while flight attendants were in the aisles. Some were thrown against the roof.
Houston-based Continental said there were 168 people and 11 crew on the Boeing 767. The airline released a statement that said the fasten seat belt sign was illuminated at the time and that about 28 passengers were treated in Miami.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Elkin Sierra said four people were seriously injured and another 22 had bumps and bruises. A total of 14 people were taken to hospitals.
The plane was on an overnight flight from Rio de Janeiro to Houston. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the turbulence struck about halfway between Puerto Rico and Grand Turk island, north of the Dominican Republic.
The plane reported hitting severe turbulence at 4:30 a.m. and landed safely at 5:30 a.m, at Miami International Airport, Bergen said.
Passenger Fabio Ottolini of Houston said it was about six hours into the flight when he felt the aircraft suddenly drop.
"People didn't have time to do anything," he said.
Ottolini said flight attendants were serving items in the aisles when the turbulence hit. He said some flight attendants were thrown against the roof of the cabin and may have been among those injured.
Carolina Portella, 18, was on the flight and headed to college in San Francisco. She said the plane hit a little turbulence and then suddenly dropped severely. The oxygen masks popped out.
"The plane just dropped," she said. "I just grabbed the hand of the person next to me and held on."
Oddly, coming out of Rio, same as the Air France flight that went down a few months ago. Luckily everyone is alive and it wasn't serious, just turbulence. Not accusing anyone on the flight who was injured of not following instructions, but THIS is why airlines say to keep your lapbelt on at all times while seated. A lot more people could have been injured if that rule wasn't followed.
Scary nonetheless.
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I hit horrible turbulence in almost the exact same spot in March when I was coming home from Punta Cana. It was terrible, the planning was jolting and dipping all over.
I was coming back to Toronto from Saskatatoon in one of those Air Canada Jazz-smaller-than-a-bus planes and the cross winds were gusting up to 70 mi/h. We were thrown up and down, side to side so hard I spilled my beer. It was my 5th one, so I didn't care. Passengers where yelling and crying - luggage was falling out of the overhead compartments. Surprisingly the landing was very smooth, but I could swear some people where praying.
I've already experienced some serious turbulence while flying during a major snowstorm, but nothing of that nature--all flight attendants were seated with their belts on, and one quickly went for her seat once the turbulence started.
I had experienced bad turbulence before, but nothing that bad.
Nobody was injured, just alot of scared and/or worried people, but otherwise, went smoothly.
Know someone who flew in Africa, and had his flight drop profusely, before the pilot was able to regain control of the aircraft. Again, this was during a period where everyone had their belts on, so nobody got injured, only scared and at some point i'm sure, worried for their lives.
With all this in mind, I still feel extremely safe on a flight.
I was coming back to Toronto from Saskatatoon in one of those Air Canada Jazz-smaller-than-a-bus planes and the cross winds were gusting up to 70 mi/h. We were thrown up and down, side to side so hard I spilled my beer. It was my 5th one, so I didn't care. Passengers where yelling and crying - luggage was falling out of the overhead compartments. Surprisingly the landing was very smooth, but I could swear some people where praying.
The best way to fly...so drunk off your ass that you don't care if the plane goes down!
The best way to fly...so drunk off your ass that you don't care if the plane goes down!
This reminds me of when I was younger, my cousin had to take a flight to Newfoundland early in the morning and he was up all night drinking. He didn't have anything at all packed because he was up all night and he was loaded when we went to the airport. I still don't know how he got through security.
i remember one year from little rock to dallas we took a plane you had to walk on the tarmac to get to and just had about 15 or so rows. the thunderstorms in that area were so bad people had canceled their seats and when we finally walked to the plane the water was halfway up my shoe. the flight attendants buckled up and never unbuckled throughout the flight. they couldn't serve drinks, but did throw pretzels around. i tried to do a word search puzzle but the turbulance was so bad you'd think i was suffering with parkinson's using my non writing hand. no one freaked out or anything like that, but then again we knew what to expect. oddly enough because of the conditions and everyone trying to make do, it was a kind of fun ride.
The best way to fly...so drunk off your ass that you don't care if the plane goes down!
Oh.. about 3-4 years ago I went to see my buddy in Philly for the long weekend, I remember flew JetsGo. The last night I was there it was July 4th and we came to some bar where they had $20 all you can eat/ all you can drink. I drank 11 pints of some local Lager and ended up doing shots with some Yanks after getting into a verbal fight with them over the whole Leaf/ Philly thing. I got so drunk that night, I couldnt walk. My buddy dragged me inside the house, I actually used all 4 to climb the stairs to second floor, where I puked my guts out repeatedly. I had to be on the plane 4 hrs later, he dropped my off at the New Ark airport I was in such a bad shape, I mean I stank, I puked on the way to the airport and in the airport. I remember the weather was horrible and the plane was all over the place, I was on 400 tylenols sound asleep. People told me that I was snoring so loud I was making a kid behind me cry.
Not a big drinker, but I may have too - each time I've flown to/from Nashville to Orlando lately, the turbulence has been a rough. I used to not "fear" flying, but these days, I hate it - I get pretty anxious.
Not a big drinker, but I may have too - each time I've flown to/from Nashville to Orlando lately, the turbulence has been a rough. I used to not "fear" flying, but these days, I hate it - I get pretty anxious.
Dude, you're not alone. I know EXACTLY how you feel. I used to be fine. But the last few flights have just made my fear grow. Even if flight is going fine I sit there anxiously awaiting the next round of turbulence that's going to send me to my watery grave.
Flying out of Houston back to JFK a few years ago in January, we flew through some pretty bad turbulence and were jarred around for 20 seconds or so, passing through a thunderstorm. The captain came up after that and apologized, and said that they tried to work threw a clear spot but still hit it a bit, and that other planes got hit much worse.
We were rewarded though with one of the coolest sights I've ever seen: The view looking down on a thunderstorm. Simply awesome if you've never seen it.
I'm with the most of you, love aviation, worked for Boeing, been flying for 20 some odd years now but I hate it now, mainly because of stories from my friends that are pilots or air traffic controllers (if you want some scary stories let me know ) so when I fly I go get a prescription for Xanax from the Doc's office pop one and mellow out.
You should see what happens when you hit turbulence or hear a noise and look over at a complete stranger and say "I work for Boeing on this airplane and I've NEVER heard that before!"
In all seriousness what is more disturbing than bumps in the air is a failed approach or failed take off. UGH if you've never experienced either one be glad. When you've got the window seat and can't see anything all the sudden the ground becomes visible about 5 feet from the ground, and the engines go to full throttle, gear goes up and away you go with a nervous flight attendant saying "Ladies and gentleman the captain has informed me that we are going to go around and attempt that again"
Why is that more scary? 80% of all aviation related accidents happen on landings or departures.
I'm with the most of you, love aviation, worked for Boeing, been flying for 20 some odd years now but I hate it now, mainly because of stories from my friends that are pilots or air traffic controllers (if you want some scary stories let me know ) so when I fly I go get a prescription for Xanax from the Doc's office pop one and mellow out.
You should see what happens when you hit turbulence or hear a noise and look over at a complete stranger and say "I work for Boeing on this airplane and I've NEVER heard that before!"
In all seriousness what is more disturbing than bumps in the air is a failed approach or failed take off. UGH if you've never experienced either one be glad. When you've got the window seat and can't see anything all the sudden the ground becomes visible about 5 feet from the ground, and the engines go to full throttle, gear goes up and away you go with a nervous flight attendant saying "Ladies and gentleman the captain has informed me that we are going to go around and attempt that again"
Why is that more scary? 80% of all aviation related accidents happen on landings or departures.
On a flight on a Turbo Prop, we started taking off and I knew something didn't sound right in the right engine. We eventually slowed down and got delayed 2 hours because there was problems with it. Not saying I'm more qualified, but you're right, there are times where your brain just ticks while listening and you think "I don't think that should sound like that." I was glad we didn't take off.
) so when I fly I go get a prescription for Xanax from the Doc's office pop one and mellow out. 
