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Severe Turbulence Forces SkyWest United Express Diversion to Austin, Leaving Two Seriously Injured

The FAA opened an investigation following a crew report of a pressurization problem during the Texas overflight.

Overview

  • The flight, operating as United Express from Aspen to Houston, carried 39 passengers and four crew on an Embraer E175.
  • About 90 minutes after departure near Fort Worth at 39,000 feet, the jet encountered severe turbulence and briefly lost roughly 4,000 feet before regaining altitude.
  • Flight-tracking data showed a momentary vertical rate of −11,456 feet per minute as the crew declared an emergency and set a course for Austin.
  • The aircraft landed around 8 p.m. local time, Austin-Travis County EMS evaluated everyone on board, and two adults were transported to hospitals with injuries not considered life-threatening.
  • The FAA classified the passengers' injuries as serious and said it will investigate, and air traffic control audio captured the pilot requesting a stretcher and reporting bleeding.