Hawaiian Airlines encounters ‘severe’ turbulence, leaving at least 11 passengers seriously injured

Passengers have described the terrifying moment their flight was hit by severe turbulence, leaving passengers with gruesome injuries.

A flight from Phoenix to Hawaii was rocked by severe turbulence on Sunday morning some 30 minutes from Honolulu, leaving nearly a dozen people seriously injured.

The Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said it received a call shortly after 11am and responders treated 36 people.

Of those, 11 were taken to multiple emergency rooms in serious condition, and nine others were transported in a stable condition, Fox News reports.

Twenty people were transported for further medical treatment, the youngest of whom was 14 months old. The agency said the wounds included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness.

“HA35 from PHX to HNL encountered severe turbulence & landed safely in HNL at 10:50am today,” Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement.

“Medical care was provided to several guests & crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to hospitals for further care.”

At least 11 Hawaiian Airlines passengers were seriously injured.

The airline said the plane was carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew members. The differing number of injuries could not immediately be reconciled.

Some who were on the flight took to social media to share their experience.

“Scariest experience flying: very strong turbulence happened mid-flight and some people with head injuries from hitting the ceiling,” tweeted one user who was on the flight.

Thomas Vaughan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said there had been a weather advisory out for thunderstorms that included Oahu and areas that would have included the flight path at the time of the incident.

FOX Business has reached out to Hawaiian Airlines for additional comment.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and has been republished with permission