‘Everyone on the Plane Threw Up': #Windmageddon Turbulence Makes Passengers, Pilots Sick on Dulles-Bound Flight
The plane struck serious turbulence as it descended toward Dulles International Airport
By Sophia Barnes ••
Passengers on planes landing in Virginia on Friday coped with stomach-turning turbulence amid powerful winds. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” one passenger said. “I felt like I was just going to throw up all over the place,” another said. News4’s Mark Segraves reports.
Passengers and pilots on a United Airlines flight bound for Washington Dulles International Airport were in for a sickening surprise Friday, when a windstorm caused severe turbulence.
Nearly everyone on the flight vomited, according to an urgent report filed with the National Weather Service's aviation center.
"Very bumpy on descent. Pretty much everyone on the plane threw up," the report said.
The pilots themselves were not spared.
"Pilots were on the verge of throwing up," the report read.
NBC Washington
A roof that flew off of an apartment building in Suitland, Maryland, struck a Prince George's County Ambulance.
NBC Washington
The roof blew off of a building at an apartment complex in Suitland, Maryland, on Friday.
Jenny Roulier
A sign for the Potomac Mills Mall visible off of Interstate-95 started to lean as a result of strong winds throughout the area.
NBC Washington
Residents were inside of this Gaithersburg, Maryland, home when a tree struck the roof. There weren't any reported injuries.
NBC Washington
A tree struck a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Friday morning, damaging a bedroom.
A tree lands atop a vehicle as a result of heavy winds across D.C. Friday.
Allie Sandza
The roots of a tree are ripped from the ground near a house at Forest Lane Northwest in Wesley Heights.
NBC Washington
Debris accumulated from Friday's heavy wind lands on top of a car in D.C.
Kirsten Albers
Several tree branches fell onto a car as a result of the heavy winds.
NBC Washington
Workers begin to repair damage from heavy winds and downed trees in D.C. Friday.
DC Fire and EMS
A large tree fell and caused substantial damage to a two-story house in D.C., D.C. Fire and EMS said.
DC Fire and EMS
Residents were not inside when a tree caused damage to a house in D.C., officials said.
DC Fire and EMS
The tree caused damage around a house in D.C., officials said.
Maria Yliquin
A cherry blossom tree fell over not far from the Washington Monument because of heavy wind.
Allie Sandza
A tree fell over close to a vehicle in Wesley Heights.
NBC Washington
A tree fell on a car off New Mexico Avenue and Cathedral Avenue Northwest on Thursday night.
A fallen tree obstructs the sidewalk on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest D.C.
A Kensington, Maryland home was partially crushed by a tree as a 100-year-old woman slept inside.
An 100-year-old woman was rescued from her home after a tree crashed into her Kensington, Maryland home.
An 100-year-old woman was rescued from her home after a tree crashed into her Kensington, Maryland home. She was asleep in this bed when the tree fell.
Courtesy of Fairfax Police
Another tree that fell onto a home.
Chris Duncan
A power line went down and several chairs were scattered in the street in Alexandria, Virginia. (Courtesy Chris Duncan)
Arlington Fire
Arlington Fire caught this messy situation on North Harrison Street near Lee Highway. (Courtesy Arlington Fire)
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
An awning fell off a building on Connecticut Avenue Northwest.
News4/Aimee Cho
Fairfax County Police
Tom Lynch/NBC Washington
A driver was injured in Northwest D.C. when a tree fell on their car.
United Express Flight 3833 was scheduled to leave Charlottesville, Virginia, at 6:30 a.m. During the small, 50-passenger plane's descent into Dulles, strong winds caused a bumpy ride and made people sick.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
"A few customers onboard the regional jet became ill as the aircraft was preparing to land," United said in a statement. "The aircraft landed safely and taxied to its gate. No customers required medical attention because of the turbulence.”
United declined to say how many passengers got sick.
The plane arrived at Dulles at 7:19 a.m., about nine minutes ahead of schedule, according to the United Airlines website.
There were no reported injuries, except perhaps emotional scarring.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Someone left behind their removable gold tooth caps, also known as "grillz."
@TSAmedia_LisaF
There's a cabinet full of laptops waiting to be claimed. TSA recommends travelers tape a business card to their devices, just in case.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Belts need to be removed at TSA checkpoints, and that means many are left behind.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Someone in a wedding party was separated from their headband.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA believes this family photo printed on a canvas was likely a holiday gift that was left behind.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA has a bin full of IDs and passports that never made it back into their owners' pockets or bags after being presented at checkpoints.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Now, where did I leave those keys?
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA wants to hear from whoever left their mink fur piece at Dulles.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Looks like this children's board game didn't make it under the tree in time for Christmas.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Many, many chargers and other wired items are left behind.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Tons of coats were left hanging, too.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Childrens' toys are often lost at TSA checkpoints during the holiday season, like this Moana doll.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
Two pricey new iPhones in their original boxes were found.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA says it tags lost items with the checkpoint, time and date when they are found. In this case, a bin full of watches that were lost.
Transportation Security Administration
Even makeup and cosmetic bags are among the many items left behind.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA agents found a delicious item all alone: chocolate from around the world.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA wants the rightful owner of these helmets to come forward.
@TSAmedia_LisaF
TSA says it's easy for some people to leave their walkers behind when they are given a courtesy wheelchair.
Airline passengers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport also had stomach-turning flights on Friday.
As a flight from Orlando approached the runway amid strong winds, the pilot aborted the landing and tried a different runway.
“I felt like I was going to throw up all over the place,” passenger Casey Kirk told NBC News. “Somebody in the back threw up. Lots of people were throwing up in bags. It was pretty crazy.”
Passenger John Kirk said it felt like the plane was moving sideways.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” he said. “The guy in front of me, whose seat I was holding, was throwing up for like five minutes.”
Scott Gelman and Andrea Swalec contributed reporting.
