Avianca flight turbulence leaves 8 hospitalized, forces emergency landing

At least eight people were hospitalized early Friday morning after a flight to New York City from Colombia diverted to the Miami International Airport for an emergency landing due to severe turbulence. An official at Miami International Airport told Global News that Avianca Flight 042 was travelling from Medellín, Colombia, to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and had to “divert to MIA due to turbulence.”The flight landed at 3:30 a.m. on Friday and eight passengers were transported to a nearby hospital, said Greg Chin, communications director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. 1:37 Plane makes emergency landing on Highway 1 near Banff The remaining passengers departed at 8:15 a.m. local time on a flight to JFK, Chin added. Story continues below advertisement The flight was diverted to Miami “as a precautionary measure and in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols,” a spokesperson for the airline told Global News.“Three cabin crew members and six passengers were affected by the turbulence. Upon arrival, Avianca’s team and airport medical services activated the appropriate protocols to provide immediate care,” the airline added. Get breaking Nati...