Severe turbulence diverts New York City flight to Miami, 8 injured

Eight people were hospitalized after a New York City-bound flight was diverted following severe turbulence on Friday, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department told Fox News Digital. Avianca Flight 042 took off from Medellin, Colombia and landed in Miami around 3:30 a.m. local time. After the eight injured passengers were directed to a local hospital, the remaining passengers departed for New York's John F. Kennedy Airport at 8:15 a.m., the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Flight AV042, operating from Medellín (MDE) to New York (JFK), encountered unexpected turbulence during its journey. As a precaution and in accordance with the airline’s safety protocols, the flight was diverted to Miami International Airport (MIA), where the aircraft landed safely," an Avianca spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Three cabin crew members and six passengers were affected by the turbulence. Upon arrival, Avianca’s team and airport medical services activated the appropriate protocols to provide immediate care. For the remaining passengers, Avianca’s airport team has made the necessary arrangements to continue their travel to New York, providing assistance and support throughout the process," the spokesperson continued. "Avianca remains in contact with the affected passengers and crew members as it continues to respond to the situation. The safety of our customers and employees is, and will remain, the foundation of our operations," the statement concluded. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.