INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

JetBlue Turbulence: 3 Passengers Describe First-Hand Flight Scares

By Antonio J. Newell
Published on: 12:59 PST, Aug 12, 2016

JetBlue’s turbulence situation has made headlines, and rightly so. The Airbus holds a capacity of 150. And, according to reports, 24 were injured.

From Boston, Massachusetts, JetBlue’s Flight 429 was on its way to Sacramento, California, according to CNN. However, along the way, things took a shaky turn.

“I think I need a PR rep…”

Derek Lindahl has obviously claimed some fame from the JetBlue turbulence situation.

CNN reports that he helped save a woman from possible neck injury.

While others hit their heads on the plane’s ceiling, the source reports that Lindahl recalled saving a JetBlue passenger who literally raised two feet out of her seat while not wearing her safety belt.

“I literally grabbed her out of the air to hold her to the seat,” says the turbulence survivor.

Via Twitter, the JetBlue passenger also notes that one flight attendant hit her head so hard on the ceiling that she suffered multiple cuts, a neck injury, as well as a concussion.

While several felt that the turbulence was horrific, Derek says that it was scary, but definitely not what media is making it appear.

As a matter of fact, the JetBlue passenger found a humorous way to tweet about his turbulence experience.

By “hounds,” of course, Derek means the aforementioned media.

However, he was happily reunited with his own hound. He calls him Jasper.

Although many people’s experiences were different, the one thing they all have in common is terror. Terror at 34,000 feet.

For some, nothing encompasses the fear of flying like undergoing severe airplane turbulence.

Flight attendants became rag dolls.

At least, that’s Jason Layne’s description. Esquire reports that this freelance radio DJ was on board JetBlue’s turbulence nightmare. His account might make you cringe in your seat.

He recalls having an excellent window view, in row seven, on the right side of the JetBlue aircraft.

Moments before the turbulence began, Layne noticed that they were heading near severe-like weather.

He notes that everything happened so suddenly. Obviously, it took everyone — including the JetBlue crew — by surprise.

“I think the plane just hit a pocket of air. It happened way too quickly for an announcement to be made. I think it even took the pilot by surprise.

“The turbulence was the finger-of-God kind. It lasted just a few moments, probably about 10-15 seconds. But at one point we dropped probably 100 feet in a second, and that’s when people who weren’t buckled in flew out of their seats and smashed their head into the ceiling.

“The flight attendants were thrown like rag dolls all over the place. It was significant.”

The JetBlue turbulence caused quite the commotion aboard the flight. He recalled “shrieks of fear,” luggage tossed out of their compartments, and debris from passengers’ food items lacing the floor.

Like a Bad Dream

It’s understandable to think that severe turbulence is something of nightmares.

During the experience, it might remind you of all the movies you’ve watched where planes crash after heavy turbulent winds.

JetBlue passenger Rhonda Renee recalled her personal account — similar to Layne’s.

“People were flying out of their seat belts and hitting their head on the ceiling; it was very scary,” she tells CNN.

She mentions that it was “like a bad dream.”

Rhonda was actually taking photos from inside the plane during the aftermath.

According to CNN, the JetBlue flight rerouted to Rapid City, South Dakota, around 8:30 p.m., Thursday evening. Once the company and the passengers regrouped, they resumed the trip aboard another JetBlue aircraft.

How do you think you would’ve reacted to the turbulence in the sky? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Photo by Reed Saxon/AP Images]

Share this article: JetBlue Turbulence: 3 Passengers Describe First-Hand Flight Scares
More from Inquisitr