Twenty passengers from a recent flight are suing Delta Air Lines after experiencing severe turbulence that left over two dozen individuals, including passengers and crew, hospitalized. The incident took place during a journey from Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which was disrupted by turbulent conditions, leading to an emergency landing in Minnesota.
The turbulence struck the aircraft over Wyoming on July 30, 2025, causing a harrowing “2.5 minutes of terror” for the passengers before the unscheduled landing. Following the landing, 25 people were transported to hospitals for treatment, as confirmed by Delta Air Lines.
The lawsuit filed by the 20 passengers alleges that the airline’s pilots negligently flew too close to a thunderstorm, resulting in the turbulent episode. Despite receiving warnings about hazardous weather conditions and observing other flights deviating from the area, the flight crew continued along the planned route, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
The passengers’ legal representative, Casey DuBose, stated that Delta Air Lines had the means to avoid the severe weather but chose to ignore the alerts, putting passengers at risk. The Aviation Law Group described a chaotic scene within the cabin, with injuries ranging from physical trauma to lasting psychological effects.
While the National Transportation Safety Board found that the pilots were unprepared for the storm, the complainants argue that the National Weather Service had issued advisories about severe weather along the flight path. The lawsuit questions the decision not to divert the flight as other planes did and criticizes the choice to land in Minnesota instead of closer alternatives like Salt Lake City or Denver, prolonging the ordeal for the passengers.
The affected passengers are seeking compensation and a trial in response to the incident. Delta Air Lines has been approached for comment by the Mirror news outlet.