Turbulence causes injures on Miami-bound plane

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. (WSVN) -- Authorities say individuals onboard an American Airlines plane suffered injuries due to extreme turbulence.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to several injuries at Miami International Airport, Sunday night.

According to officials, 145 people were on American Airlines Flight 980 from Salvador Recife, Brazil to Miami when the plane experienced extreme turbulence two hours into the flight. "Wake up and everything shaking," said passenger Sebastiao Magalhaes.

Seats were shaking as passengers on the plane screamed. Some were even tossed into the aisle, along with carts inside the cabin. "The two flight attendants that were back there, one of them got thrown up in the air, he flew and landed in the hallway," said passenger Gillas Correja. "The actual food cart went up and hit the ceiling, made a huge hole."

The turbulence went on for minutes as frightened passengers held on. "Just brace it and OK we're going to go down," said Correja. "A fall from there, what are the chances that we're going to survive?"

A doctor on board the plane helped a crew member who had a concussion.

With six hours left in the flight the plane stabilized. "He went into the cockpit and he talked to New York and they recommended that they do a need to land," said Correja.

The plane safely landed at Miami International Airport at 6:38 p.m. "The people applauded," said passenger Lucianni Onegket.

Passengers shaken up were glad to be on the ground safely in baggage claim. ""I was sure that I was going to die," said passenger Christianne Menezes.

Rescue crews transported five injured flight attendants to local hospitals.

The plane will be taken out of service for internal repairs.

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