At least 35 injured from turbulence on Air Canada flight

An Air Canada flight travelling from Toronto to Sydney, Australia, with a scheduled stop in Vancouver, encountered sudden and severe turbulence Thursday, leaving at least 35 passengers with minor injuries, the airline said.

Flight AC33 was diverted to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport around 6:46 a.m. local time, where medical staff were on standby to examine the injured.

Initially 25 people were reported hurt, but after medical staff examined those on board, Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said it appears 35 people sustained minor injures.

The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 269 passengers and 15 crew.

Fitzpatrick said the plane was about two hours past Hawaii when it hit “severe clear air” turbulence.

He said the airline is arranging hotels in Honolulu for those who were on aboard until a new flight to Australia can be arranged.