Kristine W, the 62-year-old EDM star, is sharing the harrowing details of her experience aboard a Delta Airlines flight that encountered extreme turbulence during its journey from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam on Wednesday, July 30.
The turbulence was so severe that the flight had to be diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), and 25 passengers were taken to the hospital.
A Flight to Remember: Kristine W’s Shocking Experience
Kristine, whose real name is Kristine Weitz, filed a formal complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following the terrifying incident. She described the turbulence as something she had never experienced in her 40 years of flying.
“I’ve never thought, ‘Oh, we’re finished’ … and I’ve been in terrible situations flying because that’s what I do. I fly all over the planet,” Kristine told ABC 4, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Her daughter, Elizabeth, who was also on the flight, recounted the chaos, saying that one passenger got burned with coffee and that food and drinks were flying everywhere.
Elizabeth added, “I thought we were done. I just started praying honestly,” explaining how she saw passengers’ heads hitting the ceiling — including her mother’s.
Kristine hit her head so hard that she cracked the overhead light and briefly blacked out. The plane, which had 275 passengers and 13 crew members on board, then went into a complete freefall before rapidly ascending and descending again. The pilot was able to stabilize the situation and make an emergency landing at MSP.
Emergency Landing and Aftermath
Upon landing, 25 passengers were immediately taken to hospitals for treatment. Kristine and Elizabeth both described the scene as chaotic. “It needs to be talked about,” Kristine said, adding, “This should never happen, and they need to find out what happened on that flight.”
The turbulence was so severe that Kristine’s lawyer, Evan Oshan, explained that the plane’s descent was roughly equivalent to the height of almost two Empire State Buildings, which stands at 1,454 feet tall.
Delta Airlines confirmed the turbulence and subsequent diversion, saying the aircraft, an Airbus A330-900, landed safely at MSP at around 7:45 p.m. local time. The airline also assured the public that medical personnel were on hand to evaluate passengers and crew members once the plane had landed.
“The MSP Fire Department and paramedics responded to the aircraft at the gate to provide initial medical attention to passengers in need,” the airline added in their statement.
The FAA’s Investigation
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident, although a representative did not provide additional details to PEOPLE.
Kristine’s lawyer, Oshan, clarified that while he is not looking to interfere with the investigation, he is focused on getting to the truth of what happened during the flight. “What I’m most interested in is getting to the truth,” Oshan said.
Kristine’s experience has shed light on the potentially dangerous nature of severe turbulence and has raised questions about how such situations are handled. The flight’s terrifying ordeal has prompted an increased focus on aviation safety and whether more can be done to prevent such events from occurring.
Delta’s Commitment to Safety
In response to the incident, Delta Airlines reiterated that safety is their top priority. “Safety is our No.1 value at Delta, and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs,” the airline stated.
The investigation is ongoing, and more information about the cause of the extreme turbulence may be revealed in the future. Kristine W and her family are hoping for answers as they process the traumatic event.
