On July 1, 2024, an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration EC-MTI) flying from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay, as flight UX045, encountered severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean. The incident resulted in injuries to 30 passengers on board and forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Natal, Brazil. Flight UX045 departed from Madrid at 18:45 UTC on June 30, 2024, and was scheduled to arrive in Montevideo at 05:30 UTC on July 1, 2024. However, while cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet, the aircraft experienced sudden and violent turbulence, causing chaos inside the cabin.
Turbulence that hit an Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane (EC-MTI), left at least 30 people injured in the early hours of Monday (1st July). The flight UX45, which was heading from Spain to Uruguay with 325 passengers - had to make an emergency landing at Aluizio Alves… https://t.co/SqtaYRV7gy pic.twitter.com/QFiACuujC7
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 1, 2024
According to reports, the turbulence was so severe that a passenger was thrown into the overhead baggage compartment. The incident left the aircraft's interior damaged and resulted in injuries to 30 people on board. Some passengers suffered serious injuries, but fortunately, there were no fatalities. The injured passengers were treated at a hospital in Natal, Brazil, after the aircraft safely diverted and landed at Natal-Intl AP (SBSG). The flight had 325 passengers on board at the time of the incident.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner involved in the incident was built in 2018 and has been in service with Air Europa since then. The aircraft is equipped with a range of safety features designed to mitigate the effects of turbulence, but the severity of the turbulence encountered on this flight overwhelms the aircraft's systems. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of air travel and the ability of aircraft to withstand extreme turbulence. While incidents like this are rare, they serve as a reminder of the importance of following safety instructions and wearing seat belts while on board an aircraft.
Air Europa has expressed its condolences to the affected passengers and has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the severe turbulence and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The airline has also offered support and assistance to the affected passengers and their families. The incident has also sparked a discussion about the need for improved turbulence forecasting and the development of new technologies to help aircraft navigate through turbulent conditions more safely. As air travel continues to grow, it is essential that airlines and aircraft manufacturers work together to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.