Flight that diverted to MSP after ‘significant turbulence’ quickly dropped 2,500 feet, NTSB reports

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has learned new details about the Delta flight that was diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport earlier this summer following “significant turbulence” that injured 25 people.

RELATED: 25 people hurt on Delta flight that diverted to MSP after ‘significant turbulence’ released from hospital

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the July 30 incident on Tuesday. Read that full report below or by clicking here. Watch the initial coverage below.

25 people hurt on Delta flight that diverted to MSP

In its report, the NTSB indicates the flight crew had talked about possible turbulence during the flight but had next to no warning before the plane “rapidly” dropped roughly 2,500 feet and started a climb/descent cycle for 2.5 minutes.

Investigators noted that the ride had smoothed out prior to the incident and the captain turned off the seat belt sign. Just a short time before the drop, the crew asked air traffic controllers to deviate slightly from their planned flight path due to some “weather buildups” on radar. The controllers had the crew turn left instead of right, as they’d requested.

After that turn, the plane sped up beyond the maximum operating speed and the autopilot disengaged, the report adds. Then the severe turbulence hit.

In addition to the massive drop — which had people and carts on board hitting the ceiling of the plane, according to passengers — the plane also experienced its speed fluctuating by about 70 mph and it rolled around 40 degrees to the left, the NTSB says.

NTSBReport9-10-25Download

Delta reported 25 injuries — seven to crew members — from the incident, which prompted the crew to land at MSP instead of continuing on to its destination in Amsterdam. All had been treated and released by the following day.

A final report on the incident typically takes the NTSB 12 to 24 months to complete.

Damage from passengers hitting the ceiling

Damage from passengers hitting the ceiling
The post Flight that diverted to MSP after ‘significant turbulence’ quickly dropped 2,500 feet, NTSB reports first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.