At least eight people were hospitalized early Friday after severe turbulence struck an Avianca plane bound for New York, forcing the aircraft to divert to Miami.

The flight dropped 25,000 feet within minutes after climbing to around 35,000 feet, according to FlightRadar24 data, as reported by The New York Post.

The Avianca plane departed Medellin, Colombia, at 10:40 p.m. local time Thursday. It was heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport before the turbulent flight prompted an emergency landing roughly three hours into the journey.

At least eight people were hospitalized after severe turbulence hit a flight to New York, forcing an emergency landing in Miami.

The Avianca plane left Medellín, Colombia, late Thursday bound for JFK. It diverted about three hours in and landed around 3:30 a.m. Friday, with ambulances waiting on the tarmac. — NewsForce (@Newsforce) October 9, 2026

The Airbus A320 traveled north over Jamaica and Cuba after reaching an altitude of around 35,000 feet. About 2 ½ hours into the flight, the aircraft began a sharp descent that dramatically changed the course of the trip.

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FlightRadar24 data showed the plane descending 25,000 feet in a matter of minutes. Rather than continuing toward JFK, the aircraft diverted to Miami, where emergency personnel were preparing for its arrival.

The plane touched down in Miami at around 3:30 a.m. Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue officials said “Multiple patients” were injured, with ambulances already positioned on the tarmac by the time the aircraft arrived.

At least one injured person was in serious enough condition to be taken to a trauma center. WSVN reported that the passenger was rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center, while officials did not disclose the full extent of the injuries.

Fire officials later revealed that eight people had been hospitalized. The available information did not specify whether those taken to hospitals were passengers, crew members, or a combination of both.

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Passenger Maria Paula Jimenez described the emergency response waiting close to the place where those aboard would leave the aircraft. Her account offered a glimpse of the tense scene greeting the plane after its abrupt diversion.

“When we arrived, when we landed, we saw that very close to where we were going to disembark, there were more than five or six ambulances,” Jimenez told CBS Miami. The concentration of emergency vehicles made clear that this was no routine arrival.

“Seven of them with their lights on as if they were waiting for something. When we arrived, well, you know, it wasn’t normal.” Jimenez said the ambulances were stationed close to where passengers were expected to disembark.

Video seen by NBC6 appeared to show passengers remaining in their seats after the ordeal. Some passengers could be seen with ice packs on their heads while they were instructed to stay seated.

The images added another view of the aftermath inside the aircraft as emergency responders waited outside. Officials, however, did not provide individual details about the conditions of the eight people who were hospitalized.

The sharp descent occurred after the plane had spent much of the flight at cruising altitude. The aircraft had climbed to around 35,000 feet before losing 25,000 feet over the course of only minutes and ultimately landing in Miami.

The number of passengers and crew members aboard the Airbus A320 remained unclear. No total for those traveling on the flight was provided in the available information.

A separate Avianca flight was scheduled to depart Miami for JFK at 8:25 a.m. Friday. The original flight never completed its planned trip from Medellin to New York after the severe turbulence, rapid descent, injuries, and emergency diversion.

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