Passengers on board the United Express flight from Aspen to Houston faced a mid-air scare. The aircraft was rocked by violent turbulence and plunged thousands of feet within minutes, leaving two passengers injured. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
United Express Flight Faces Mid-Air Horror
It was a routine United Express Aspen-Houston flight operated by SkyWest when violent turbulence struck on August 28, 2025. According to a report by The Times of India, SkyWest Flight 5971 was carrying 39 passengers. The aircraft had been cruising smoothly after take-off when disaster struck. Reportedly, the plane suddenly plunged nearly 4,000 feet in a single minute. It then descended more than 25,000 feet in six minutes as the pilots diverted towards Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin. The incident was also confirmed by @flightradar24 on their X account.
Passengers were terrified as the turbulence threw both people and belongings around the cabin. Some were injured after being flung against the aircraft’s interior. The pilots alerted air traffic control and requested stretchers, as two passengers were found seriously injured. Emergency crews rushed to the runway as the plane touched down safely in Austin.
No Injuries Were Life-Threatening
As per the report by Aviation A2Z, the flight took off at 5:02 pm. It hit sudden turbulence around 7:27 pm. Within less than a minute, the jet dropped nearly 4,000 feet before regaining stability. The pilot then redirected the flight to Austin and landed safely at 8 pm, where paramedics were waiting. Paramedics evacuated passengers and crew soon after landing. Two adults were taken to the hospital as a precaution, but officials later confirmed that no injuries were life-threatening. As per the same report, passengers described the ordeal as shocking. Many struck their heads on overhead bins and were thrown violently against their seats.
SkyWest acknowledged the incident, stating that the safety of passengers is its highest priority. They also confirmed they were working with their partner, United Express, to assist everyone on board. The cause of the turbulence has not yet been revealed.
Also Read: IndiGo Surat–Dubai Flight Diverts To Ahmedabad After Mid-Air Snag, All 150 Passengers Land Safely
Authorities are still investigating the cause of this extreme turbulence, but the incident adds to growing concerns about passenger safety in the skies. More details are awaited.
Cover Image Courtesy: United Express, Wikipedia/ 4300streetcar
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