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At least 30 people aboard an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 were injured when the plane encountered turbulence over Brazil on Monday. The aircraft was en route from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay, but diverted after unbelted occupants hit the ceiling during an abrupt altitude change. One man went through a ceiling panel and had to be helped back down by other passengers.
“Our flight UX045 bound for Montevideo has been diverted to the Natal airport (in Brazil) due to strong turbulence,” Air Europa stated in social media posts. “The plane has landed normally and those who sustained different types of injuries are already being treated.” It is not clear if crew members were among those hurt. Passengers reported various injuries, including fractures and injuries to arms, faces, and legs. The Spanish airline has dispatched another plane to transport uninjured passengers to Uruguay.
