United Airlines flight plunges 25,000 feet in just 6 minutes; passengers left bleeding

A routine United Express service from Aspen to Houston turned into a terrifying ordeal when the aircraft was hit by extreme turbulence, forcing an emergency landing in Austin, as per a report by The Daily Beast.

SkyWest Flight 5971, operated for United Airlines, was carrying 39 passengers and four crew members when it suddenly dropped nearly 4,000 feet in just one minute, flight data shows. Within six minutes, the Embraer jet had descended more than 25,000 feet as pilots diverted to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The midair plunge left the cabin in chaos. Passengers were thrown against seats and overhead bins, with several suffering head injuries. Blood was seen inside the cabin as belongings scattered. In a distress call to air traffic control, one of the pilots said, “We’re going to need a stretcher, and there is bleeding as well. SkyWest 5971.”



Emergency teams were waiting on the runway when the flight landed safely. All passengers and crew were assessed by paramedics, and two people were taken to hospitals as a precaution. Officials later confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Eyewitnesses described panic and fear during the sudden drop. “People were screaming. I thought this was it,” one passenger reportedly told relatives after landing.

In a statement, SkyWest Airlines said, “Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard, and we are working with our partner United to assist customers.”

Climate Change and Rising Turbulence Risks

While the cause of Sunday’s turbulence incident is still under investigation, aviation experts point to a worrying trend: climate change is making skies more unstable.

A new study by researchers at the UK’s University of Reading has found that severe air turbulence has increased by 55 per cent between 1979 and 2020. The team projects that by the end of the century, the atmosphere could become up to 20 per cent less stable, with wind shear in jet streams rising 16–27 per cent. Both northern and southern hemispheres are expected to be affected.

“Increased wind shear and reduced stability work together to create favourable conditions for clear-air turbulence — the invisible, sudden jolts that can shake aircraft without warning,” lead author Joana Medeiros said. Unlike turbulence caused by storms, this type cannot be detected on radar, making it harder for pilots to avoid.

Professor Paul Williams, a co-author of the study, warned, “Recent years have seen severe turbulence incidents causing serious injuries and, in some tragic cases, fatalities. Pilots may need to keep seatbelt signs on longer and suspend cabin service more often during flights, but airlines will also need new technology to spot turbulence before it hits, protecting passengers as skies become more chaotic.”