Severe turbulence injures 8, diverts New York flight to Miami

Eight people were hospitalized in Miami on Friday morning after a flight bound for New York City was diverted to Miami International Airport following reports of severe turbulence, authorities said.

Miami International Airport officials said that Avianca Flight 42 was traveling from Medellin, Colombia, to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport when it encountered severe turbulence.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the aircraft landed safely at Miami International Airport at about 3.30 am local time (0730GMT). The department said that eight people were injured, including one who required transportation to a trauma center.

However, airline officials told CBS News Miami that nine people were injured in the incident, including three crew members and six passengers.

A passenger who was at Miami International Airport as the Avianca flight arrived said she noticed several ambulances waiting to assist those injured.

"When we arrived, when we landed, we saw that very close to where we were going to disembark, there were more than five or six ambulances. Seven of them with their lights on as if they were waiting for something," passenger Maria Paula Jimenez said. "When we arrived, well, you know, it wasn't normal."

Avianca officials said the airline's airport team was assisting the remaining passengers with arrangements to continue their journey to New York City.