A United Airlines flight that was on its way to Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday was diverted to Orange County in New York when passengers became ill and strong winds and turbulence were also reported, officials said.
United Airlines Flight 85 landed safely at New York Stewart International Airport in New Windsor at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, according to the FAA. The Boeing 787 had departed Tel Aviv, Israel, and was en route to Newark when a passenger reported a medical emergency, the agency said in a statement.
While the FAA did not provide details on the customer’s emergency, the office of Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said in a news release that high winds and turbulence were also an issue on the flight.
First responders evaluated about 200 passengers at the New York Airport. Some were then brought to the hospital for further treatment, while the rest were transported back to Newark Airport, Neuhaus’ office said.
“I want to thank all the first responders for their quick, efficient and professional action,” Neuhaus said in a statement. “Their collaborative efforts on this Good Friday evening helped alleviate the stress and difficulty of a challenging situation.”
It was unclear how many people were hospitalized as of Saturday afternoon. No serious injuries were reported, officials said.
United Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.
Stories by Nicolas Fernandes
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.