Nearly 40 Air Canada passengers were left injured and traumatized after their flight from Vancouver to Australia took a frightening turn and hit severe turbulence, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing in Hawaii.
Of the 269 passengers and 15 crew members onboard Flight AC33 Thursday, 37 of them experienced injuries from the “un-forecasted and sudden turbulence”, Angela Mah, a spokesperson for Air Canada, confirms to PEOPLE.
Upon landing, 30 of those people were rushed the hospital following the incident, with nine initially listed in serious condition and 21 suffering minor injuries, Hawaiianhealth officials said in a press conference. Seven others refused treatment at the airport.
The plane, which originated in Toronto, had taken off from Vancouver International Airport late Wednesday night and was headed toward Sydney.
Air Canada.Sam Rattanasone/Instagram
Things were going smoothly, with many of the passengers onboard sleeping, until hours later when the plane was approximately two hours past Hawaii, Mah says.
As the aircraft flew over the Pacific Ocean, that’s when chaos ensued as passengers said they were suddenly thrown out of their seats. The turbulence was enough to violently jolt nearly everyone downward, awakening those were sleeping, and cause oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling.
“A lot of people hit the ceiling, and a lot of screaming,” Michael Baileyrecalled to CBS News. “Sitting in front of me the girl hit the plastic overhead and actually snapped it and broke it. I think one of the stewards was badly injured when the trolley fell on top of them.”
Lachlan Coffee also told the outlet he felt like the plane was going to crash. “It was like a scene from a movie. It was really traumatic,” he shared.
Despite being two hours past Hawaii, the plane was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing at Honolulu Airport, Mah tells PEOPLE.
The aircraft landed normally on Thursday morning at approximately 6:45 a.m., local time, where six ambulances and 50 first responders were waiting. They then transported 30 people to a local hospital for their injuries.
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Another image shows the first responders at the scene as a fellow passenger sits at the gate, also with a neck brace on.
“No lives lost and we’re very, very pleased with the outcome,” he said, adding that many of the passengers were able to contact their loved ones.
Air Canada incident.Sam Rattanasone/Instagram
In the wake of the incident, Mah says Air Canada is handling the matter and providing accommodations for the passengers until they re-depart for Australia tomorrow.
“We have made arrangements including hotel accommodations and meals for passengers in Honolulu,” she adds. “The flight to Sydney, AU is planned to resume tomorrow, July 12 at 12 noon local Hawaii time.”
source: people.com
