RENO, Nev. — (KRNV/KING/NBC) - A flight from Southern California to Washington state made an emergency landing in Nevada after five passengers were injured from severe turbulence.
A passenger recorded video of service carts and other debris littering the center aisle of the plane.
The Compass Airline flight was operating as a Delta connection from Orange County to Seattle.
The plane landed safely at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport where three of the five injured passengers were taken to a local hospital.
Crazy turbulence and injuries, but the @delta crew handled it perfectly, even the emergency landing. pic.twitter.com/NoJWLp5GUv
— joe justice (@JoeJustice0) February 13, 2019
The remaining passengers were able to exit normally through the main cabin door.
An airport representative says emergency landings are rare in Reno.
"(It has been) seven years since we had an incident like this where a flight diverted with this type of a situation. But again, we train for it. We have a fully prepared police and fire department. Our first responders know how to take care of these situations," said Brian Kulpin, spokesman for the Reno-Tahoe Airport.
"I was sitting toward the back of the plane, so I saw the drink cart hit the ceiling, along with the flight attendant who was doing the drink service, and that ... that was amazing just to see all that happening, and then you could see the people who aren't belted in. They're hitting the ceiling, and they're flying up out of their seats. So, always wear your seat belt, no matter what, because this was unexpected," said passenger Erin Kayser.
Courtesy of NBC News Channel