‘Hit the Ceiling’: 7 Hospitalized After Turbulence Diverts Lufthansa Flight to Washington DC-Area Airport

Seven people were taken to hospitals after severe turbulence forced their flight to be diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday night, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officials said. 

Lufthansa flight 469, en route to Frankfurt, Germany, from Austin, Texas, landed at Dulles at around 9:10 p.m. after encountering turbulence at 37,000 feet over Tennessee, the FAA said.

Passengers said the flight began with a little turbulence, but was going well, and food and beverage service was underway when the journey took a terrifying turn.

The airplane dropped twice in about 20 seconds, one passenger said.

Jazz Kantipudi said he saw a flight attendant leave the floor and hit the ceiling of the plane.

“He was literally standing up serving drinks, so he had no way to brace himself,” Kantipudi said. “At one of the drops, he literally, completely, hit the ceiling and dropped down and was completely horizontal.”

“I looked to my right and I saw him just up there, and it was honestly kind of freaky… like something out of a movie.”

Food and packaging were strewn throughout an aisle, video from the plane shows.

One passenger said the pilot told them that the plane dropped about 4,000 feet.

MWAA said crews assessed injuries to several passengers before they were taken to hospitals. The plane was offloaded. News4 is working to learn more about the extent of the injuries.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.