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Ten hospitalized after turbulence strikes American Airlines jet

Monday, 7 August 20173 min read

Ten passengers and crew were injured on an American Airlines transatlantic flight to Philadelphia after severe turbulence caused havoc.

Three passengers and seven crew members were taken to hospital for evaluation.

Turbulence hit Flight 759, which was carrying 287 passengers, shortly before it was due to land.

American said the fasten seat belt sign was on at the time.

It was described as a very sudden violent lurch that ended just as abruptly as it started.

"I was looking forward and I just saw everything just move upwards about four feet. So I saw drinks, you know, flying up against walls and up on the ceiling," passenger Alex Ehmke told NBC News.

"The gentleman directly behind us and diagonally behind us hit the ceiling himself."

Reporter Jessica Huseman, also a passenger on the plane called it ‘insane and unexpected.’

"We are taking care of our passengers and our crew members at this time and want to thank our team members for keeping our passengers safe," American said in a statement.