Passengers, Flight Attendants Injured On Flight From NC To PIE

Updated: 7:07 a.m., Thursday

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Four people were injured because of turbulence on a Wednesday afternoon flight from Asheville, North Carolina, to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, according to multiple reports.

Among those injured were two passengers and two flight attendants, Andrew Porrello, a spokesperson for Allegiant Airlines, told the Tampa Bay Times.

The Allegiant flight, which landed just before 3:30 p.m., were met by multiple first respondersand at least four ambulances, IONTB reported. The plane was carrying 179 passengers and six crew members.

Flight data shows that the plane dropped about 5,000 feet in a minute — from 18,000 feet to 13,000 feet — after hitting turbulence, WTSP reported.

Witnesses told WFLA that one passenger, a woman, hit the plane’s ceiling when the aircraft dropped.

“We hit a major turbulence, which was petrifying,” another passenger, Lisa Spriggs, said. “She was literally like (‘The Matrix.’) Watched her go up in the air, and just land straight down. She broke her ankle. Another stewardess in the back broke her ankle, bone was protruding.”