Overview

• SkyWest 5971, operating as United Express from Aspen to Houston, encountered severe turbulence near Fort Worth about 90 minutes after departure at 39,000 feet.
• Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 shows an abrupt drop of roughly 4,000 feet in about a minute and a momentary peak vertical rate of -11,456 feet per minute before a rapid descent toward Austin.
• The crew declared a general emergency by squawking 7700 and, in ATC audio, a pilot requested a stretcher and reported bleeding on board.
• The Embraer E175 landed safely at Austin-Bergstrom, where EMS evaluated 39 passengers and four crew, and two adults were transported to hospitals with injuries not expected to be life-threatening.
• SkyWest said safety and customer assistance are the priority, and CNN noted research indicating turbulence is unpredictable and may be increasing as the climate warms.