On Thursday, two individuals suffered injuries when a United Airlines flight made an abrupt maneuver while descending into San Francisco.

“United flight 2428 was approaching SFO on Sept. 19, with the seatbelt sign illuminated when it reduced its descent to avoid another aircraft flying at a lower altitude. Two passengers, one of whom was standing at that moment, reported potential injuries and were taken to a hospital. We appreciate our crew’s actions to ensure the safety of our staff and passengers,” the airline stated.

The flight was coming from Newark.

These situations can often involve an aircraft’s traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), which notifies pilots of nearby planes that could collide and suggests they change altitude to prevent accidents. Typically, TCAS instructions direct one pilot to ascend while the other is instructed to descend, creating more space between the planes.

United Airlines has yet to confirm if TCAS was a factor in the incident on September 19.

This incident serves as a crucial reminder to heed the seatbelt sign while flying.

When the sign is illuminated, it indicates that turbulence is expected or that pilots might need to make sudden movements.

Moreover, turbulence can occur suddenly, so it’s wise to remain strapped in whenever you are seated on a plane, regardless of the sign’s status.