Turbulence-hit Allegiant Air Flight 7001 en route to Pittsburgh makes emergency landing in Florida; 7 injured

Passengers on board an Allegiant Air Flight 7001 en route to Pittsburgh had a scary experience when their aircraft encountered severe turbulence. The flight was diverted to make an emergency landing at Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after seven people were injured during the incident.

The airline reportedly told Pittsburgh's WTAE that the flight was a charter service operated on behalf of Apple Vacations. With 137 passengers and six crew members on board, the flight was headed towards Pittsburgh International Airport from Punta Cana International Airport, but was caught in the midst of severe turbulence. The charter flight landed safely in Fort Lauderdale at 2.43pm local time, the airline added.

Those injured included three passengers and four crew members, of whom a flight attendant was the worst hit with head injuries. The injured were immediately attended by emergency medical personnel. The Broward County sheriff's office reportedly said that the injuries were not life-threatening.

"We were flying normal, I was actually sleeping and I heard a little jolt and then all of a sudden a big jolt and I looked over at my mom and she was like flying up in the air," passenger Heather Osborne was quoted by the news site as saying. "I actually had my seat belt on, my mom didn't. I saw her flying in the air, she hit her head and hit her hip area. Five injured people were taken to the hospital," Osborne added.

"I have people's blood on my feet," Amanda Kuhn, who was injured during the turbulence, was quoted as saying. Another passenger Jeff Vaughn told the publication that when faced with such midair turbulence, he puts his trust in the Lord and lets Him take care of things.