Woman dead after private jet encountered severe turbulence over New England, NTSB says
One person is dead after a private jet suffered severe turbulence that forced the plane to land in a Connecticut airport, officials said Sunday.
A Bombardier CL30 jet departed Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene, New Hampshire, Friday en route to Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to USA TODAY. During the flight, the plane encountered "severe turbulence" and diverted to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, around 4 p.m. local time.
The National Transportation Safety Board told USA TODAY three passengers and two crew members were on the jet, and the turbulence resulted "in fatal injuries" to one of the passengers.
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Aviation officials investigate severe turbulence incident
The NTSB is leading an investigation into the incident, alongside the FAA. The aircraft is secured at Bradley International Airport, the NTSB said.
"NTSB investigators have removed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder and are continuing to gather information from the flight crew, operator, and passengers about the circumstances of the event," the agency added.
A preliminary report is expected to be released within the next three weeks.
Deceased individual identified
Connecticut State Police confirmed to USA TODAY the deceased individual was 55-year-old Dana Hyde of Cabin John, Maryland.
Authorities said state troopers responded to Bradley International Airport, and Hyde was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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What is turbulence?
The FAA defines turbulence as "air movement created by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms" that can give airplanes "a sudden jolt."
Turbulence can be unexpected and can happen when weather conditions appear clear.
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Severe turbulence and injuries
Passengers and flight crewmembers that aren't buckled into their seat belts can sustain injuries, the FAA says. Data from the agency showed that turbulence resulted in 146 serious injuries from 2009 to 2021, 116 of which involved crewmembers. An NTSB report found turbulence accounted for 37.6% of accidents on commercial flights from 2009 to 2018.
The FAA said a serious injury is one that results in hospitalization for more than 48 hours, bone fractures, severe hemorrhages, involves internal organs or second-or third-degree burns.
The incident comes after seven travelers on a Lufthansa flight from Austin, Texas to Frankfurt, Germany were hospitalized after their flight hit a "brief but severe" patch of turbulence. In December, 36 people were injured after a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu was struck by severe turbulence.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman dead after private jet hit with severe turbulence: Officials
