On July 30, 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight 56, traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, hit severe turbulence less than an hour after takeoff. The plane diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where 25 people were hospitalized. This event has sparked new questions about turbulence risks, airline safety, and what passengers and crew can do to stay safe.
Delta Air Lines Flight 56, an Airbus A330-900, left Salt Lake City with 275 passengers and 13 crew members. The turbulence struck suddenly, just before 8 p.m. local time, during dinner service. Passengers and flight attendants who were not wearing seat belts were thrown against the ceiling, and service carts and other objects flew through the cabin. The crew quickly decided to divert the flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where emergency teams met the plane. According to Delta, 25 people were taken to local hospitals for evaluation and care. Thankfully, as of July 31, 2025, no one suffered life-threatening injuries or fatalities.
Delta Air Lines thanked emergency responders and said their Care Team is helping affected passengers and crew. The airline stressed that safety is always their top priority. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started an investigation into the incident, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission coordinated the emergency response at the airport.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) both recognize turbulence as the leading cause of in-flight injuries on U.S. airlines. After the Delta Air Lines Flight 56 incident, the FAA reminded travelers to keep their seat belts fastened at all times while seated, even if the seat belt sign is off. This advice is meant to reduce the risk of injury from unexpected turbulence, which can happen without warning.
Delta reports that none of the 25 people hospitalized suffered major injuries. The airline is providing direct support to those affected, making sure they have the help they need. The FAA’s ongoing investigation will look at the cause of the turbulence and whether any changes to procedures or technology could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
In recent years, airlines have seen a noticeable rise in turbulence events. Experts say this is partly due to climate change, which is changing global wind patterns and jet streams. For example, Singapore Airlines, after a serious turbulence incident in May 2024, now requires passengers to keep their seat belts fastened throughout long-haul flights, even when the seat belt sign is off. Korean Air has removed certain hot snacks from economy service to lower the risk of burns during turbulence. Southwest Airlines now secures cabins for landing at 10,000 feet instead of 18,000 feet, reducing the time crew members are exposed to turbulence risk during descent.
Delta is also a leader in using new technology to improve turbulence detection and avoidance. The airline participates in IATA’s Turbulence Aware platform, which collects real-time turbulence data from many airlines to help pilots plan safer routes. Another promising development is the NSF NCAR ADS-B Turbulence Detection Algorithm. This system uses real-time aircraft location data to detect and share turbulence intensity worldwide. The FAA is supporting tests of this technology, which could soon help pilots avoid rough air more effectively.
The FAA is also modernizing its own turbulence detection and reporting systems. This includes better use of Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) metrics, which measure turbulence strength, and improved real-time data sharing. The agency is also updating pilot and crew training to help them respond more effectively to turbulence.
Looking at the numbers, the Delta Air Lines Flight 56 incident involved 25 people hospitalized out of 288 onboard. No fatalities or critical injuries have been reported. In 2024, the FAA recorded 20 serious turbulence-related injuries among flight attendants and 3 among passengers that required at least two days in the hospital. Korean Air reported over a 50% increase in turbulence events between 2019 and 2024. Turbulence-related costs in the United States 🇺🇸 now exceed $100 million each year, covering injuries, equipment damage, and flight disruptions.
For passengers, the most important safety step is to keep your seat belt fastened whenever you are seated, even if the seat belt sign is off. The FAA and airlines stress this point because turbulence can strike without warning. Passengers should also listen carefully to crew instructions and safety briefings and make sure to secure personal items to prevent injuries from flying objects.
Airlines are also changing how crews work to reduce risk. Many now limit crew movement during parts of the flight that are more likely to have turbulence, especially during descent or over areas known for rough air. These changes help keep both passengers and crew safer.
Aviation safety experts point out that while turbulence rarely causes crashes, it is the main reason for in-flight injuries. The biggest challenge is clear air turbulence, which cannot be seen on radar and often comes without warning. Meteorologists and climate scientists warn that climate change is likely making turbulence more common and more severe, especially on transatlantic routes like the one flown by Delta Air Lines Flight 56.
Airlines and unions support more investment in real-time turbulence detection, better forecasting, and improved crew training. These steps are seen as key to keeping passengers and crew safe as turbulence risks rise.
Turbulence has been a leading cause of in-flight injuries for many years, especially for people not wearing seat belts. The FAA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have worked together for over 20 years to improve turbulence forecasting and avoidance. Recent high-profile incidents, such as the May 2024 Singapore Airlines flight (which resulted in one death and 144 injuries) and the July 2025 Delta incident, have put even more focus on turbulence safety and airline policies.
Looking ahead, new technology like the NSF NCAR ADS-B Turbulence Detection Algorithm could soon help pilots avoid turbulence more effectively. This system is expected to be ready within the next one to two years and could change how airlines handle turbulence worldwide. Airlines are also likely to tighten seat belt rules and update service protocols as turbulence risks continue to rise. The FAA is expected to keep updating its guidance and rules based on new data and incidents.
Ongoing partnerships between airlines, weather agencies, and technology companies are focused on improving real-time turbulence detection and passenger safety. These collaborations are important for making air travel safer as the climate changes and turbulence becomes more common.
For those affected by the Delta Air Lines Flight 56 incident, Delta’s Care Team is offering direct help. Passengers can contact Delta through their official website or customer service lines for support. The FAA also provides detailed guidance for passengers on turbulence safety, which can be found on the FAA’s official website under the “Turbulence: Staying Safe” section. For more information about turbulence research and new detection technology, updates are available on the National Center for Atmospheric Research website.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the July 30, 2025 Delta turbulence incident highlights the growing challenge of in-flight turbulence, the need for seat belt use, and the aviation industry’s ongoing work to improve detection, avoidance, and passenger safety. The FAA and airlines are responding with investigations, policy updates, and new technology to address the rising risks of turbulence in commercial aviation.
For travelers, the best way to stay safe is to always wear your seat belt when seated, listen to crew instructions, and secure your belongings. For airlines and regulators, continued investment in technology, training, and updated procedures will be key to reducing injuries and keeping air travel safe for everyone. For more official information on turbulence safety and what you can do as a passenger, visit the FAA’s Turbulence: Staying Safe page.
Learn Today
Turbulence → Irregular air movements causing instability during flights, risking injuries if seat belts are unfastened.
FAA → Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. agency regulating aviation safety and investigating incidents.
EDR (Eddy Dissipation Rate) → A metric measuring turbulence strength used for detection and reporting.
ADS-B → Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, technology providing real-time aircraft location and turbulence data sharing.
Clear Air Turbulence → Invisible turbulence occurring without visual or radar warning, posing significant hazards during flights.
This Article in a Nutshell
On July 30, 2025, Delta Flight 56 encountered severe turbulence shortly after departure, causing 25 hospitalizations. The FAA investigates and stresses seat belt safety. Airlines adopt new tech and policies to improve turbulence detection and passenger safety amid rising turbulence risks linked to climate change.
— By VisaVerge.com
