An Avianca Airlines flight traveling from Colombia to New York City was forced to divert to Miami International Airport early Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, after encountering severe turbulence that left nine people injured.
Avianca Flight 042 departed from José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín at 11:23 p.m. local time on Thursday, heading toward John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. According to FlightAware tracking data, the Airbus A320 was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet over the Bahamas when the aircraft experienced sudden, severe turbulence.
The flight crew logged a diversion at 2:46 a.m. Eastern time, turning the aircraft toward Miami while it was roughly 156 miles southeast of the city. The plane landed safely at Miami International Airport at approximately 3:30 a.m., where emergency responders waited on the tarmac.
Emergency Response and Hospital Transports
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue classified the emergency as a Level One Mass Casualty Incident, mobilizing multiple units to meet the aircraft upon arrival. Witnesses and passengers reported seeing a heavy emergency presence near the gate, with numerous ambulances lining the tarmac.
Airline officials confirmed that nine people-three cabin crew members and six passengers-sustained injuries during the incident. Emergency responders transported eight of these individuals to local medical facilities for further treatment.
- One injured individual was rushed as a trauma alert to the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center.
- Seven other injured passengers and crew members were transported to nearby local hospitals via private ambulances.
- The remaining uninjured passengers received assistance from Avianca’s airport ground team to make alternate travel arrangements to New York.
Airline and Federal Response
In an official statement, Avianca emphasized its commitment to safety, noting that the flight diversion was executed as a precautionary measure in strict adherence to standard protocols.
“Avianca reports that flight AV042, operating from Medellín to New York, encountered unexpected turbulence during its journey. As a precaution and in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols, the flight was diverted to Miami International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely,” the airline stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will open an investigation into the incident. Aviation authorities and safety experts continue to remind travelers of the critical importance of keeping seat belts securely fastened throughout flights, even when the overhead seat belt sign is turned off, to prevent injuries from unexpected clear-air turbulence.
