Turbulence injures 12 on flight from Houston to London; plane diverted to Ireland

SHANNON, Ireland (KTRK) -- United Airlines flight 880 from Houston to Heathrow was forced to land at Shannon Airport in Ireland following severe turbulence.

Twelve people been taken to hospital after transatlantic turbulence prompted the 767 to make an emergency landing in Ireland.

Ten passengers and two crew members were taken to hospital.

The flight was travelling from Houston, Texas, to Heathrow.

It encountered "unexpected turbulence," according to the airline.

The aircraft was about 300 miles from London when it diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel.

One passenger on social media said there was major turbulence and that a flight attendant had a cut on her head, others had broken bones and that the fight attendant said she had not seen anything like it in 20 years.

She told us people literally we flying through the plane. Her companion landed on top of his seat, and she was trying to hold onto the girl next to her to buckle her in.

It happened while people were asleep and came without warning.

We spoke on the phone to that passenger from Giddings, Texas.

The plane was carrying more than 200 people and crew members.

It is believed that all but one of the passengers and crew injured by the turbulence were treated and released from the hospital.

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