Injured passengers and flight attendants were taken to nearby hospitals

On Wednesday, a Southwest Airlines flight (SW4273) from New Orleans to Orlando encountered severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida. Two people were injured, a passenger and a flight attendant, according to Tampa International Airport.

“The captain declared an emergency, requested a deviation from the documented flight plan, and requested that paramedics be available upon arrival to assess any potential injuries,” the statement said.

Injured passengers and flight attendants were taken to nearby hospitals. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.

CNN Weather Tuesday’s storm, which brought severe severe weather from the Ohio Valley to the Deep South, blanketed the Gulf of Mexico this morning, causing severe thunderstorms across the region, according to reports.

Turbulence is a sudden change in airflow that causes erratic movement in the atmosphere, creating air currents that can be unsettling for passengers on an airplane. In severe cases, turbulence can even disrupt aircraft control.

Southwest Airlines Passengers arrived in Orlando four and a half hours later than scheduled, Fox Weather reported.

“We apologize for the delay to their journeys and nothing is more important than ensuring the safe operation of every flight,” the airline said.

According to Southwest, mechanics inspected the plane once it landed.