NEW YORK, March 30: Seven individuals were transported to a hospital in New York for observation following a harrowing experience of severe turbulence aboard a United Airlines flight on Friday night. The flight, en route from the Middle East to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, was compelled to make an unscheduled landing at New York Stewart International Airport after what the Federal Aviation Administration described as a "passenger medical emergency."

According to a statement from United Airlines, one passenger disembarked from United Flight 85 due to a medical incident, while "a few other customers were seen by medical personnel for possible motion sickness." The airline cited high winds reported at Newark as a contributing factor to the turbulence.

New Windsor EMS Chief Michael Bigg reported that a total of seven individuals were transported for observation after the turbulence. He described the scene upon arrival, stating, "Our first EMS unit on the scene was encountered by a flight crew who stated they hit severe turbulence while landing at Newark and were diverted to New York International Airport. They advised our crew that they had multiple people on the plane complaining of nausea, and some chest pain, from the turbulence."

Despite the alarming nature of the incident, both the FAA and United confirmed that the Boeing 787 flight landed safely at Stewart International Airport. Following refueling, the aircraft resumed its journey to Newark.

Chief Bigg emphasized that while there were no major injuries reported, several passengers experienced symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or motion sickness. "We evaluated about 30 people, and we transported 7 to the local hospital just for observation, no serious injuries or ailments," he stated. "Most people just wanted to get checked out at the local emergency room."

The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel and serves as a reminder of the importance of passenger safety and preparedness in such situations.