Still not much running on the wires...
AP-fltr-010502-13:21-PA/HOME
United Airlines flight diverts to New Zealand after hitting severe turbulence; several injured
Eds: ADDS type of aircraft in graf 3; ADDS number of passengers and crew on flight, and changes attribution in graf 4; ADDS quote in graf 5; Minor edits
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – A United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco detoured to Auckland late Wednesday after several passengers were injured when the plane hit severe turbulence over the Pacific Ocean, an airline spokesman said.
Television news bulletins in New Zealand said up to seven passengers were believed to have suffered broken bones and that one had a severe head injury.
Ambulance crews rushed to Auckland Airport to assess the passengers. The Boeing 747-400 touched down in Auckland at 10:55 p.m. (1055 GMT).
Airline spokesman in Auckland, Jonathan Tudor, told The Associated Press that United Airlines flight 862, carrying 269 passengers and 21 crew, had taken off from Sydney at 3:35 p.m. New Zealand time (0335 GMT) and flew into “clear air turbulence” after about four hours.
“It was sudden and unexpected, people had no warning,” he said.
Tudor confirmed that some passengers and crew had been injured but said he did not know how many or how badly they were hurt.
Those who were uninjured would be housed overnight in Auckland hotels overnight, he added.
A spokesman at the airport told The Associated Press four ambulances were at the scene but could not immediately provide any more details.
No further details were immediately available.
mfl