A United Airlines flight had to divert to Memphis after experiencing severe turbulence on Wednesday, resulting in one passenger being hospitalized.

The airline stated that flight 1196, which was on its way from Cancún, Mexico to Chicago, encountered a “brief period of severe turbulence while the seatbelt sign was illuminated.”

The aircraft landed safely in Memphis, where paramedics were waiting at the gate to assist.

The flight eventually continued to its destination in Chicago, arriving on Wednesday evening.

This year has also seen several notable turbulence cases, including a Singapore Airlines flight in May, which resulted in injuries for 30 individuals, and a passenger lost their life, though this may have been due to an existing health condition.

Is turbulence becoming more common?

Researchers believe that climate change is making turbulence occur more frequently and intensively. While dangerous turbulence remains quite rare, it can still happen.

To remain safe, passengers are encouraged to keep their seatbelts fastened whenever seated, even if the seatbelt sign is off. This is due to the possibility of sudden clear air turbulence, which is most likely to cause injuries when people are not secured.

“Whenever anyone inquires about turbulence, I provide the same advice,” said Thomas Guinn, the chair of applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in a previous discussion with YSL News. “If you’re buckled up in your seat, the chance of injury during turbulence is minimal.”