2-7-2024 (BRASILIA) A routine flight from Madrid to Montevideo turned into a harrowing ordeal for passengers as their Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner encountered severe turbulence, forcing an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil. The incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, left dozens of passengers injured, prompting a swift response from Brazilian authorities.
With 325 people on board, the aircraft was violently rocked by the turbulence, causing panic and chaos among those onboard. As the plane touched down at the Natal airport, a fleet of more than a dozen ambulances awaited, ready to provide medical assistance to the injured passengers.
According to the health secretariat of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte state, a total of 40 passengers were transported to hospitals and clinics in Natal, seeking treatment for “abrasions and minor traumas.” By Monday afternoon, 11 individuals remained hospitalized at the Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel hospital, receiving ongoing care for their injuries.
The passenger manifest revealed a diverse mix of nationalities among the injured, including citizens of Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Israel, Bolivia, and Germany, underscoring the international nature of the flight.
Air Europa initially reported that seven passengers had been treated for “various injuries,” while an undisclosed number received medical attention for bruises sustained during the turbulent episode.
In a statement, the airline confirmed that a replacement aircraft was being dispatched from Madrid to collect the stranded passengers, while the damaged Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner would remain in Natal for a thorough examination to assess the extent of the damage sustained during the incident.
The traumatized passengers will first be transported to Recife, another city in Brazil, before continuing their journey to the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, their original destination.
Eyewitness accounts and images shared on social media platforms painted a vivid picture of the chaos and destruction caused by the turbulence. Mariela Jodal, a passenger who documented the event on X (formerly Twitter), described the turbulence as “very strong,” expressing gratitude for the seat belt that likely prevented more severe injuries.
Vuelo UX045 pic.twitter.com/MibBFuYTgi
— Mariela Jodal (@MarielaJodal) July 1, 2024
The images shared by Jodal revealed the extent of the damage, with broken ceiling panels exposing pipes and wires, while emergency vehicles with flashing lights awaited on the tarmac in Natal, underscoring the severity of the situation.
