Five passengers report medical issues after diversions
The Colorado Springs Fire Department attended to five passengers from different flights who reported medical issues as planes landed in Colorado Springs. One person was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the department, told CNN that crews positioned medical teams to handle the arriving aircraft. “We basically staged our medical teams at the airport, one on the tarmac and another at the gate as planes continued to divert, so we did not have to drive back and forward as planes landed,” Franco said.
News organizations reported different totals for the number of diversions. CBS News reported 29 flights — 25 domestic and four international — were diverted, while CNN reported 22.
The FAA said the pilot in command ultimately decides where to land each airplane. “Weather-related diversions can occur due to factors including thunderstorms, very strong winds and low visibility,” the agency said.
The diversions followed a cold front that moved through the Denver area late Monday, bringing windy conditions and shifts in wind direction. Air turbulence is common around Denver because of the nearby Rocky Mountains.