Severe turbulence forces Newark-bound flight to land at Stewart

On Friday, March 29, at around 6:12 p.m., a United Airlines flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, flying to Newark Liberty International Airport in NJ, had to be rerouted to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor after experiencing severe turbulence.

The plane, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner carrying about 319 passengers, landed safely; passengers were evaluated by EMS units on the scene. No severe injuries were reported, though some passengers were evaluated at local medical facilities for minor injuries.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus gave the following statement shortly after the incident. “Earlier today, a United Airlines flight was diverted from Newark Airport in New Jersey to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York due to high winds and turbulence. Upon arrival, the Stewart Air National Guard Fire Department and emergency services, along with Port Authority, county and local municipal first responders assessed the condition of approximately 200 passengers. Some were transported to local hospitals for evaluation and the rest were transported back to Newark Airport. I want to thank all the first responders for their quick, efficient, and professional action. Their collaborative efforts on this Good Friday evening helped alleviate the stress and difficulty of a challenging situation. While no passengers experienced serious injuries, we wish them all speedy recoveries and safe travels.”