A United Airlines flight, designated as flight 5690 and operated by SkyWest, encountered turbulence while en route from Springfield, Missouri, to Houston, Texas, landing instead in Waco, Texas, on Sunday evening. The plane took off shortly before 5 p.m. and arrived in Waco at approximately 6:30 p.m., according to flight tracking data.
The turbulence was attributed to severe weather conditions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Upon landing, medical personnel were on standby to assist passengers. SkyWest reported that five individuals were taken to the hospital due to minor injuries sustained during the incident. The airline stated that it, along with United Airlines, is ensuring that all affected customers receive necessary care. To facilitate further travel, an additional aircraft was dispatched to transport the remaining passengers from Waco to Houston.
Reports from local media in Waco indicated that the turbulent conditions led to the diversion of multiple flights to the city on the same day. The aircraft involved in the incident was a Bombardier CRJ-200, which typically accommodates around 31 passengers.
Waco is located approximately 90 miles from both Austin, the state capital, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, making it a notable location for rerouted flights. Further details surrounding the incident and the condition of the injured passengers have not been disclosed at this time.