United flight hits severe turbulence over Kansas; 30 injured

The flight originated at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., and was headed to Los Angeles. It landed safely at around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at Denver International Airport, where it was met by medical crews, Denver Fire Department spokesman Eric Tade said.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor in Los Angeles said 26 passengers and four crew members were injured. He said one person was critically hurt, but he released no further details.

Officials said many of the injured were transported to a handful of area hospitals with only moderate injuries. By late Tuesday, some had been released or were expected to be released.

"There are mostly walking injuries," Tade told The Denver Post. He said the injuries included bruises, whiplash, strains and sprains.

Some passengers were placed on another flight to Los Angeles that arrived there just before midnight.

Flight 967 was flying over Kansas at an altitude of about 34,000 feet when it hit the heavy turbulence, said FAA spokesman Mike Fergus in Seattle. It was carrying 255 passengers and 10 crew members.

The turbulence was "just a huge up and down," said passenger Kaoma Bechaz, a 19-year-old Australian in the United States visiting her boyfriend.

Bechaz told the Post that the head of the woman sitting next to her hit the side of the cabin, leaving a crack above the window, and a girl across the aisle flew into the air and hit the ceiling.