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9 aboard Air Canada flight hurt after Airbus hits turbulence; plane diverted to Calgary
CANADA PLANE LMD101 5638513
An injured passenger is transported to a hospital at Calgary International Airport after an Air Canada jet encountered trouble and the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Calgary, Alberta on Thursday Jan. 10, 2008. At least 14 people aboard were injured when the Airbus A319 hit turbulence during a cross-country flight, an official said. - photo by Associated Press
    CALGARY, Alberta — An Air Canada jetliner made an emergency landing in Calgary on Thursday after nine people aboard were injured when the Airbus A319 hit turbulence during a cross-country flight, an official said.
    None of the injuries were life-threatening, said Bryce Paton of the Calgary Airport Authority.
    The jet, carrying 88 people from Victoria, British Columbia, to Toronto, was diverted to Calgary for the emergency landing, officials said.
    The plane landed safely at 8:30 a.m. with a request for medical units to meet the aircraft because of injuries on board, Paton said. Ambulances surrounded the jet and paramedics and tended to the injured.
    Stuart Brideaux of Calgary Emergency Medical Services told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that 14 people were injured. But he later said at a briefing that nine were hurt, including six who were taken to a hospital in stable condition. The three others suffered minor injuries.
    ‘‘We don’t have any major injuries,’’ Brideaux said.
    Air Canada said the plane was carrying 83 passengers and five crew members.
    ‘‘It happened very fast,’’ one unidentified female passenger told the media at the airport. ‘‘One side of the plane just went up a little bit sideways and then just went back down. Our friend was really hurt. ... She flew up and hit the ceiling and went back down.’’

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