5 Passengers Hospitalized After United Express Flight Hits Turbulence

Five injured as turbulence diverts flight to Waco

A flight from Springfield, Missouri to Houston had to land at the Waco Regional Airport due to turbulence.

Five passengers were hospitalized after a United Airlines regional flight encountered turbulence and diverted to Waco, Texas, on Sunday.

According to SkyWest, which was operating the flight for United Airlines, none of the injuries were life-threatening.

"SkyWest flight 5690, operating as United Express from Springfield, MO to Houston, landed safely at Waco Regional Airport Sunday after experiencing turbulence," A SkyWest spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. "Medical personnel met and evaluated passengers, and five passengers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. SkyWest and United are making sure all customers get the care they need and dispatched another aircraft to fly the customers from Waco to Houston."

SkyWest did not provide an update on the condition of the hospitalized passengers.

Severe turbulence is getting more frequent and severe as a result of climate change, and experts say the best way to stay safe while flying is to keep your seatbelt fastened, even when the seatbelt sign is off. Turbulence can occur without warning, and airplane seatbelts are designed to keep you from bouncing around the cabin in rough air.

Turbulence is among the most common causes of injuries for airline passengers and crew, especially for those who elect not to wear their seatbelts or to get up when the seatbelt sign is on.

"The people who are not strapped in now also become projectiles themselves and can harm people when they come back down," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, previously told USA TODAY. "I know plenty of flight attendants who have had career-ending injuries from turbulence."

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.