A routine United Express flight from Aspen to Houston turned into a midair nightmare when the jet was rocked by violent turbulence and plunged thousands of feet in just minutes, leaving passengers bloodied and terrified.
SkyWest Flight 5971, carrying 39 passengers and four crew members, had been cruising smoothly about 90 minutes after takeoff when disaster struck, the Daily Beast reported. FlightRadar24 data shows the aircraft suddenly dropped nearly 4,000 feet in a single minute, then descended more than 25,000 feet in six minutes as the pilots diverted toward Austin-Bergstrom International Airport .
Panic filled the cabin as belongings and bodies were thrown against the aircraft interior. In a chilling radio call, one of the pilots alerted air traffic control, “We’re going to need a stretcher, and there is bleeding as well. SkyWest 5971.”
Emergency crews rushed to the runway as the Embraer jet touched down safely in Austin. Paramedics evaluated every passenger and crew member. Two adults were transported to hospitals “out of an abundance of caution,” but officials later confirmed none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Eyewitness terror
Passengers described chaos in the cabin, some struck their heads on overhead bins while others were thrown violently against seats. Blood was visible as stunned fliers braced for what felt like a free fall.
“People were screaming. I thought this was it,” one shaken passenger reportedly told relatives after landing, the Daily Beast reported.
Airline responds
In a statement, SkyWest acknowledged the terrifying ordeal: “Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard, and we are working with our partner United to assist customers.”
While the cause of the extreme turbulence remains under investigation, the episode adds to growing concerns about passenger safety in increasingly unpredictable skies.
SkyWest Flight 5971, carrying 39 passengers and four crew members, had been cruising smoothly about 90 minutes after takeoff when disaster struck, the Daily Beast reported. FlightRadar24 data shows the aircraft suddenly dropped nearly 4,000 feet in a single minute, then descended more than 25,000 feet in six minutes as the pilots diverted toward Austin-Bergstrom International Airport .
Panic filled the cabin as belongings and bodies were thrown against the aircraft interior. In a chilling radio call, one of the pilots alerted air traffic control, “We’re going to need a stretcher, and there is bleeding as well. SkyWest 5971.”
Emergency crews rushed to the runway as the Embraer jet touched down safely in Austin. Paramedics evaluated every passenger and crew member. Two adults were transported to hospitals “out of an abundance of caution,” but officials later confirmed none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Ahead of Labor Day weekend, two passengers were sent to the hospital after a Houston-bound United Express flight, operated by Skywest, was rocked by turbulence.The flight diverted to Austin after pilots declared an emergency. @Morganorwood reports. https://t.co/QzCTi77E1a pic.twitter.com/xGWPSHBxDy
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) August 30, 2025
Eyewitness terror
Passengers described chaos in the cabin, some struck their heads on overhead bins while others were thrown violently against seats. Blood was visible as stunned fliers braced for what felt like a free fall.
“People were screaming. I thought this was it,” one shaken passenger reportedly told relatives after landing, the Daily Beast reported.
Airline responds
In a statement, SkyWest acknowledged the terrifying ordeal: “Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard, and we are working with our partner United to assist customers.”
While the cause of the extreme turbulence remains under investigation, the episode adds to growing concerns about passenger safety in increasingly unpredictable skies.
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