While turbulence is a common reason many people fear or even avoid flying, it is almost never an indication that the plane itself is in danger — a far bigger risk are the injuries that can occur from getting tossed around during the aircraft's sudden movements. That's why the seatbelt signs come on at the slightest indication of turbulence.
Recent social media footage of extreme turbulence on a Delta (DAL) -) flight from Milan to Atlanta showed several passengers and flight attendants being taken out of the plane on stretchers by first responders upon the plane's arrival. 11 people were injured in total.
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Another instance of injuries caused due to turbulence occurred back in May. On an Avelo Airlines flight from New Haven, Conn. to Florida's Fort Myers, the Boeing 737 plane dropped 300 feet in the air and went into an "uncommanded 45-degree roll."
Turbulence behind flight attendant injuries
The flight was temporarily diverted to Orlando, where three flight attendants were taken off for treatment for minor injuries that came as a result of being thrown around inside the plane.
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After investigating the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that turbulence was behind the injuries — according to documents obtained by NBC News through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, the turbulence was caused by another plane somewhere between 11 to 15 miles ahead of the Avelo 737.
In aviation terms, an "uncommanded roll" refers to movements of the plane not caused by the pilot.
"After further evaluation while in ZJX's airspace the pilot reported that three flight attendants had received minor injuries during the turbulence and was requesting to divert to MCO with medical personnel standing by," the report reads.
The flight attendants injured include a 24-year-old man and 27- and 34-year-old women. The Texas-based airline confirmed to NBC that "emergency personnel from Orlando International Airport transferred three people from diverted Avelo flight 357 to a local hospital."
What else you need to know about Avelo (it's expanding fast)
Despite the recent incident, Avelo has been rapidly gaining recognition and trust in the eyes of many travelers. The low-cost airline was launched in 2021 by founder Andrew Levy with the goal of running flights between smaller cities and destinations underserved by major carriers such as Delta Air Lines (DAL) -) and United Airlines (UAL) -).
After adding a new flight between Central Wisconsin and Orlando International Airport for the fall, the airline now serves more than 45 cities and 25 states — a milestone that Avelo branded as "serving half the United States."
While some low-cost airlines have a reputation for poor service and too many additional charges, a recent survey analyzing airline passenger complaints found that more than 80% of those writing about Avelo online had positive things to say about the experience — a number topping the list of budget and non-budget airlines.
The airline has also recently launched new service between New Mexico and Las Vegas and has been promoting it with $69 fares in one direction.
