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Two people were injured after a Southwest Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence while flying over Florida. The turbulence forced Southwest Flight 4273 from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Orlando, Florida, to make an emergency landing at Tampa Bay International Airport.
"Our Crew safely diverted Southwest flight 4273 to Tampa Bay International Airport early this morning from a planned journey between New Orleans and Orlando following turbulence in flight. The Captain declared an emergency, a requirement to deviate from a filed flight plan, and also requested that paramedics be available when the aircraft arrived to assess any potential injury," Southwest Airlines said in a statement.
When the plane landed, a passenger and a member of the flight crew were rushed to a local hospital. The airline did not provide information about their injuries or their conditions.
After mechanics inspected the Boeing 737 jet, it was cleared to fly, and the passengers continued to Orlando, arriving nearly five hours behind schedule.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that it is investigating the incident.