Passengers describe terrifying turbulence where plane plunged 4,000ft in less than a minute
‘It looked like the Matrix’: Passengers describe the moment when ‘several people hit the ceiling’ during terrifying turbulence that saw the plane plummet 5,000 feet in less than two minutes, leaving several injured
- Allegiant Airlines flight dropped from 18,000 ft to 13,000 ft in less than two minutes
- A passenger described a flight attendant flying through the air as the ‘matrix’
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One passenger has described the moment a flight attendant “floated into the sky” as a plane plummeted about 5,000 feet in less than two minutes as the “matrix.”
The Allegiant Airlines flight, which departed from Asheville, North Carolina, flew at 18,000 feet before dropping to about 13,000 feet just 15 minutes before landing.
Two passengers and two flight attendants were taken to hospital and treated for injuries – one employee left the plane with a protruding bone from his ankle.
The flight was en route to St. Petersburg, Florida, from Asheville, North Carolina, when it suddenly lost altitude 15 minutes before landing.
Passenger Lisa Spriggs said, “Literally she flew into the air – as Matrix is the only way I can describe it – was there for maybe half a second and then landed straight down.”
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The Allegiant Airlines flight, which departed from Asheville, North Carolina, flew at 18,000 feet before dropping to about 13,000 feet just 15 minutes before landing
Passenger Lisa Spriggs (pictured) said: ‘Literally she flew into the sky – as if Matrix is the only way I can think of to describe it’
Four people were taken to hospital, the severity of their injuries is still unclear. It is also not clear whether anyone else was injured.
Ms Spriggs also said an attendant and another worker broke their ankles, with the bone protruding from the worker’s foot.
Ms. Spriggs added, “Thank goodness there were medical personnel on our flight… they just administered whatever help they could.”
“I’m just thankful to be on the ground,” she added, describing the situation as “terrifying.” You hear it happening, but you don’t expect it to be this bad.’
In a statement to WFLA, Allegiant executives said, “Today, Allegiant Flight 227, en route from Asheville, NC to St. Petersburg, FL, experienced severe turbulence prior to landing.
The aircraft, with 179 passengers and six crew members on board, landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power.
Four people were taken to hospital, the severity of their injuries is still unclear. It is also not clear whether anyone else was injured. Pictured: Debris after the turbulence
Ms Spriggs also said an attendant and another worker broke their ankles, with the bone protruding from the worker’s foot. Pictured: Debris after the turbulence
Two passengers and two flight attendants were taken to hospital and treated for their injuries
Ms Spriggs also said an attendant and another worker broke their ankles, with the bone protruding from the worker’s foot. Pictured: ambulances outside St. Pete-Clearwater Airport
Airport paramedics complied with plans to examine two passengers and two flight attendants for injuries. They have been transported to the hospital for further examination.’
The airline added that it “will continue to investigate the incident” in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board “and provide more information as it becomes available.”
A man on board the plane shared how he saw several passengers hit their heads during the tumultuous flight before several people were taken off the plane on stretchers.
“There was a sudden burst of turbulence and then big, big turbulence,” said Paul Harris WFLA. “The plane felt like it was descending quite a bit. Several people, including a lady in my row, hit the ceiling.’
He added that several of the overhead bins opened and could not be closed because they broke.