Avianca Flight Diverts to Miami After Turbulence Injures Passengers

Severe turbulence forced an Avianca passenger flight traveling from Medellín, Colombia, to New York City to make an emergency diversion to Miami International Airport early Friday, October 9, 2026. Eight passengers were hospitalized after the incident, and emergency responders transported them to local medical facilities for treatment.

Avianca Flight 042 was scheduled to arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. According to Greg Chin, communications director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, the aircraft landed in Miami at 3:30 a.m. local time, and the remaining passengers continued their journey at 8:15 a.m.

Chin confirmed that eight passengers were transported to a nearby hospital. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue separately reported that eight patients received medical attention following the turbulence incident.

The airline said the diversion was a precautionary decision made under its established safety procedures. Its response included medical assistance for affected passengers and crew members after the aircraft arrived in Miami.

Avianca described the decision to divert as necessary to protect those aboard the aircraft.

"as a precautionary measure and in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols," an Avianca spokesperson told Global News.

The airline reported that nine people were affected by the turbulence, including three cabin crew members and six passengers. This figure differs from the eight patients reported by emergency responders, who provided details about the medical transports.

Avianca said its personnel coordinated with airport medical services to assist those affected.

"Three cabin crew members and six passengers were affected by the turbulence. Upon arrival, Avianca’s team and airport medical services activated the appropriate protocols to provide immediate care," the airline said.

The airline also arranged onward travel for passengers who were not receiving hospital treatment and said it remained in contact with affected individuals.

"For the remaining passengers, Avianca’s airport team has made the necessary arrangements to continue their travel to New York, providing assistance and support throughout the process," the airline said.

The company added that communication with affected passengers and crew members would continue as it responded to the incident.

"Avianca remains in contact with the affected passengers and crew members as it continues to respond to the situation," the airline said.

The airline emphasized that safety remained its central operational priority.

"is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations." the airline said.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue dispatched eight units after receiving a medical call about turbulence aboard an aircraft. The incident was upgraded to a Level One Mass Casualty Incident because of the number of patients, according to a department spokesperson.

The department said one patient was transported to the main trauma center by its personnel, while private ambulances took seven others to hospitals in the surrounding area.

One passenger described the experience as frightening in an interview with NBC Miami.

"it was the end for us." the passenger said.

The passenger also described the severity of the turbulence during the flight.

"It was incredibly intense — something I’ve never experienced in my life," the passenger told NBC Miami.

The incident follows other cases of severe turbulence that have injured airline passengers. In July 2025, a Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam diverted to Minneapolis after more than two dozen people were injured.

According to The Associated Press, emergency personnel were standing by when the Airbus A330-900 operating Flight DL56 landed. The airline later said 25 passengers were taken to hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that 163 people sustained turbulence-related injuries serious enough to require at least two days of hospital treatment between 2009 and 2022. Most were flight attendants, who face additional exposure because their duties require them to move around the cabin during flights.