'Plane lurched thru the air. Honestly, terrifying': Three passengers and seven crew are hospitalized after AA flight encounters severe turbulence before Philadelphia landing

  • American Airlines flight 759 had 'severe turbulence' before landing on Saturday
  • The plane with nearly 300 on board was arriving in Philadelphia from Greece
  • Passengers claim the aircraft suddenly lurched, sending people and drinks flying
  • Three people and seven crew members were taken to hospital for their injuries

By Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

An American Airlines flight landed after experiencing 'severe turbulence' shortly before landing, sending 10 people to the hospital for their injuries. 

Three passengers and seven of the airline's crew members were rushed to a local hospital after a shaky flight from Greece to Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.

The shaky in-bound plane encountered 'severe turbulence' right before flight 759 touched down at Philadelphia International Airport. 

Flight attendants had just finished handing out drinks before the plane lurched, causing drinks to go flying and people to slam into the ceiling, according to reports.

Passengers described the event as terrifying and one claims a flight attendant dislocated his shoulder in the commotion.

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American Airlines flight 759 (file photo) had 'severe turbulence' before landing at Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday. Three passengers and seven crew members were taken to the hospital for their injuries

American Airlines flight 759 (file photo) had 'severe turbulence' before landing at Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday. Three passengers and seven crew members were taken to the hospital for their injuries 

Passengers described the event as terrifying and one claims a flight attendant dislocated his shoulder in the commotion

Passengers described the event as terrifying and one claims a flight attendant dislocated his shoulder in the commotion

Thirty minutes before landing, the plane 'lurched', causing people to become injured, according to reports. The plane was traveling from Athens to Philadelphia 

Thirty minutes before landing, the plane 'lurched', causing people to become injured, according to reports. The plane was traveling from Athens to Philadelphia 

Passenger Ian Smith retold the events of the flight to ABC 6, and said the plane was 30 minutes out when it suddenly fell through the sky.

He said: 'Thirty minutes out. They were giving us our drinks. The flight attendants were in the last couple rows when they said "fasten your seat belts."

'And then they said for the flight attendants to get to their seats, and they didn't even have time. 

'It started shaking, then it took a big drop. Babies screaming, people in front of us hitting the ceiling.'

ProPublica reporter Jessica Huseman was another flier who went through the terrifying experience.

She wrote on Twitter: 'No warning at all. Plane lurched thru the air. Honestly, terrifying.

'Turbulence on flight was so insane and unexpected a flight attendant dislocated his shoulder.'

Drinks went flying, 'soaking' the plane
Pictured: A passenger took photos of 'coffee staining the ceiling'

Flight attendants had just finished serving drinks when the turbulence happened, according to reports. Drinks went flying, 'soaking' the plane. Pictured: A passenger took photos of 'spilled coffee inside the lights' (left) and 'coffee staining the ceiling' (right)

American said in a statement: 'We are taking care of our passengers and our crew members at this time and want to thank our team members for keeping our passengers safe.' Pictured: Philadelphia International Airport

American said in a statement: 'We are taking care of our passengers and our crew members at this time and want to thank our team members for keeping our passengers safe.' Pictured: Philadelphia International Airport

Huseman added: 'Some passengers are injured as well. We all used our fleece blankets to mop the ceiling of the plane down after drinks went flying.

'They'd *just* handed out drinks. This plane (that I'm still on) is soaked. Soaked. They'll be hosing this out for hours.'  

The flight landed at 3.10pm but it was originally expected to land at 3.45pm, according to the airline's flight arrival times.

There were 287 passengers and 12 crew members on the flight coming from Athens.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital  for evaluation. There was no immediate word on their injuries or whether any would be admitted.

American said in a statement: 'We are taking care of our passengers and our crew members at this time and want to thank our team members for keeping our passengers safe.'  

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