A Scandinavian Airlines flight from Stockholm to Miami was forced to return to Europe due to extreme turbulence in Greenland on Thursday.
Dramatic video of Scandinavian Airlines Flight 957 shows severe turbulence, leaving some of the 254 passengers screaming and the cabin filled with debris.
There are no reports of any serious injuries on the flight.
The pilots decided to make a U-turn and flew about five hours back to Copenhagen, where the damage to the aircraft was inspected.
In a statement to CBS News, the airline said it had “the best facilities and staff for this level of inspection” at Copenhagen Airport, and so it “decided to re-route the aircraft here, where the hangar Both space and qualified technicians were available.” ,
It added that flying the plane to Miami “resulted in long layovers, leading to multiple cancellations.”
Robert Sumwalt, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, questioned why the pilots did not choose a nearby airport.
“If there was any question about the structural integrity of the airplane, they should have landed at the nearest suitable airport,” Sumwalt said. “The question will be, did they return to Copenhagen out of convenience, or did they do so because they felt it was the safest route?”
Researchers believe climate change may be a cause serious disturbance is being made more commonA 2023 study The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found that turbulence over the North Atlantic has increased by 55% since 1979.
“During this time of year, typically, there can be some strong turbulence,” said Laura Einstler, an airline captain who flies through that area. “We always try to avoid these types of areas.”
The Federal Aviation Administration says injuries caused by turbulence are rare. Sumwalt says it's important to wear a seat belt.
“There is some technology out there that can really keep people from getting hurt,” Sumwalt said. “And that technology is called seatbelts.”
