Avianca flight from Colombia drops 25,000 feet in sudden turbulence, sending eight passengers to hospital after Miami emergency landing

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue declared a Level One Mass Casualty Incident because of the number of patients, with one taken to the main trauma centre and seven others transported by private ambulances.

Three cabin crew members and six passengers were affected, with footage showing people on stretchers and one woman in a neck brace outside the airport.

'We thought it was the end for us — it was incredibly intense, something I've never experienced in my life,' said passenger Pilar, who described at least three violent bouts of turbulence.

The aircraft was at 35,000 feet above the Caribbean when it suddenly lost altitude, with an overhead compartment reportedly coming undone during the incident.