NEW WINDSOR, NY – A United Airlines flight destined for New Jersey was forced to make an unscheduled landing due to wind shear, resulting in several passengers being taken to a local hospital. The Boeing 787, operating as United Airlines Flight 85, had departed from Tel Aviv, Israel, and was due to land at Newark’s Liberty International Airport. However, the final stages of the flight saw the plane divert to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York.
Upon landing in Orange County, a substantial number of emergency personnel were on hand to provide medical aid to passengers who had been jostled during the turbulent flight. The Stewart Air National Guard Fire Department and Emergency Services, along with Port Authority, County and local municipal first responders, assessed the condition of nearly 200 passengers. Some were taken to local hospitals for further evaluation, while the remainder were transported back to Newark Airport, according to Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
United Airlines issued a statement the following morning, noting that one passenger had disembarked due to a medical issue, while several others were treated for potential motion sickness. The airline confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening. After a delay of several hours, the plane was refueled and completed its journey to Newark.
Wind shear, a sudden change in wind direction or speed over a short distance, is known to impact aircraft during takeoff and landing. The FOX Forecast Center reported no major storm systems in the vicinity of northern New Jersey at the time, but wind speeds were clocked at over 50 mph in the afternoon. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, noted that over 100 flights were delayed or canceled at the airport during the start of the holiday weekend.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has increased its oversight of United Airlines following a series of incidents, including this one involving Flight 85. The FAA is currently investigating Friday’s incident.