About 20 people injured by turbulence on United Airlines flight to Japan

20 hurt by turbulence on United flight to Japan

TOKYO — About 20 people have been injured by turbulence aboard a United Airlines plane flying from Washington, D.C., to Japan.

Tetsuya Shinozuka, a police official at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, says many of the injuries were bruises, but at least one person may have broken a leg. He gave no further details.

United Airlines spokesman Mike Trevino in Chicago says about halfway into the 13-hour flight, the pilot advised passengers to put on their seat belts. A short time later, the plane “experienced moderate turbulence.”

He declined to discuss any injuries but says United is cooperating with health officials.

The Boeing 747 with 263 people on board landed on schedule Saturday in Tokyo.