Miami, United States: An Avianca Airbus A320 operating Flight AV42 from Medellín, Colombia, to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport diverted to Miami International Airport on Friday, 9 October, 2026 after encountering severe and unexpected turbulence, leaving six passengers and three cabin crew members affected. The aircraft landed safely at Miami at around 3:25–3:30 a.m., after which eight people were transported to hospitals for medical treatment.
The aircraft, identified by aviation tracking sources as an Airbus A320-200 registered N207FR, had been operating northbound toward New York. Air traffic control records placed the aircraft at around 34,000 feet when the turbulence occurred. Passenger accounts described at least three severe bouts of turbulence, with some unbelted passengers and a flight attendant being thrown into the air. Several passengers suffered apparent head injuries and were seen using ice packs after the aircraft landed.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said eight people were transported by ambulance, with one taken to a trauma centre. Seven patients were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, while one was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center. The 9th person suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene by medical teams at Miami International Airport, and did not require hospital transport. By Friday evening, Jackson Memorial Hospital said seven people under its care had been discharged, while the condition of the eighth injured person was not publicly available. Footage from the scene showed emergency crews waiting on the ramp and transporting injured passengers from the aircraft.
Avianca said the aircraft encountered “unexpected turbulence” and was diverted to Miami “as a precaution and in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols.” The airline said it remained in contact with the affected passengers and crew members and that “the safety of our customers and employees is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations.” The carrier said its airport team was assisting the remaining passengers with arrangements to continue their journey to New York.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the flight was travelling from Medellín to JFK and said it would investigate the incident. No official finding has yet established what caused the turbulence or whether any specific weather system was responsible.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft reaching about 36,000 feet before a substantial descent during the diversion toward Miami. Some reports have described this as a roughly 25,000-foot drop, but that figure should not be presented as a sudden 25,000-foot fall caused by turbulence. The available information does not establish that the aircraft lost 25,000 feet uncontrollably; the FAA has not released an official reconstruction of the aircraft’s altitude profile.
The remaining passengers were subsequently assisted with continuing their journey to New York. Miami airport officials said the onward service was expected to depart around 8:15 a.m. Flight-status data shows the Miami-New York sector subsequently operated later that morning.
The total number of passengers aboard has not been publicly confirmed. Avianca has disclosed that six passengers and three crew members were affected. The FAA investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the turbulence, the aircraft’s flight profile and other operational details.
