FlightFollowerSkyWest E175 encounters severe turbulence over Texas
SkyWest flight 5971, operating for United Airlines as United Express, was en route from Aspen to Houston when it encountered severe turbulence over Texas near Fort Worth. The flight safely diverted to Austin, Texas and was met at the gate by medical personnel. SkyWest flight 5971 departed Aspen (ASE | KASE) at 23:02 UTC (17:02 local time) bound for Houston (IAH | KIAH).
Accident Facts
- Airports
- IAH (Houston Intercontinental)
- Category
- Emergency, Medical, Weather, Diversion
- Reconstruction
- 4:19
As the flight passed near Fort Worth at an altitude of 39,000 feet, around 00:27 UTC it encountered severe turbulence. ADS-B data from the flight shows a maximum barometric vertical rate of -11,456 feet per minute at 00:27:31 UTC. That rate is a calculated rate by the aircraft’s systems captured at a single moment in time, not a reflection of the total descent.
From 00:27:06 to 00:27:50, the flight descended from 39,000 feet to 34,650 feet before climbing back up to 37,450 feet by 00:28:50. After that point, the aircraft began a descent to land at Austin, squawking 7700 (the squawk code for general emergency) at 00:30:57 UTC.