Severe Turbulence Forces Scandinavian Airlines Flight to Return to Europe

A flight from Scandinavian Airlines, heading to Miami, had to turn back to Europe on Thursday after hitting severe turbulence over Greenland, as said by the airline. They also mentioned no serious injuries were reported among the 254 passengers or crew members on flight SK957. The plane was rerouted to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark for an inspection.

The airline explained that after such turbulence, a full inspection of the aircraft is required as part of standard safety procedures. Social media photos from the flight showed items scattered on the floor because of the turbulence. Passenger Sammy Solstad told CNN that he felt lucky to be alive. “Everyone on the plane was praying, hoping to land safely instead of continuing over the open sea,” he said. Solstad mentioned that a woman near him wasn’t wearing her seatbelt when the turbulence started. “She flew up to the ceiling, as you can see in the video, and then fell to the floor,” he said.

Upon arrival in Copenhagen, passengers were met by a “special assistance team” and helped with rebooking. They were placed in a hotel overnight and booked on other flights. Turbulence is a leading cause of injuries to passengers and flight attendants, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

However, such incidents are still rare. From 2009 to 2023, 37 passengers and 146 crew members were seriously injured due to turbulence, according to data from the National Transportation Safety Board.