July 31, 2025- On the evening of July 30, 2025 Delta flight 56 from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The airline says the flight encountered significant turbulence over Wyoming.
Reports show first responders met the flight upon landing and took 25 people to hospitals for evaluation and treatment. Delta said 7 of the crew members were treated and released.
“A flight like this from the United States to the Netherlands is governed by the Montreal Convention which is an international treaty that governs carriage of passengers. Under that treaty, injured passengers could be compensated up to $170,000 of strict liability, they would need to prove certain things to be entitled to that so they would need legal representation,” said Lea Bucciero, Partner at Podhurst Orseck.
According to Delta, the Airbus A330-900 carrying 275 customers and 13 crew members landed safely at MSP.
“From the initial information it looks like there were some warnings of severe weather in that area which should always put pilots on notice for the potential of turbulence,” said Bucciero.
In recent months a number of flight incidents and tragedies are raising concerns about aviation safety.
“Any of the passengers who were on this flight should seek legal representation from an attorney knowledgeable about the Montreal Convention such as myself or my colleagues. Passengers certainly should not sign any documents provided to them by Delta. There needs to be a thorough review of what they went through and how Delta may be at fault for this,” said Bucciero.
In January, there was a deadly midair collision over Washington, D.C. between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet. The National Transportation Safety Board says the helicopter had incorrect altitude readings.
In March, five passengers sustained injuries after SkyWest Flight 5690, operating as United Express, made an emergency landing in Waco, Texas after the flight experienced turbulence.
In July, passengers slid down an emergency slide at Denver International Airport due to a possible problem with the plane’s landing gear.
“Passengers need to really understand what their rights are under the laws applicable to domestic and international travel and make sure their interests are protected,” said Bucciero.
