High winds force emergency landing in Reno, 5 minor injuries

Five passengers suffered minor injuries yesterday when a Delta Air Lines flight headed from Orange County to Seattle encountered severe turbulence in a winter storm and was forced to make an emergency landing in Reno.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport spokesman Brian Kulpin says three of the passengers were transported to a local hospital, where their conditions weren’t immediately known. The other two didn't require additional medical attention. Emergency crews said all the injuries were minor.

A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Compass Flight 5763 flying under the Delta banner out of John Wayne Airport in Orange County was diverted to Reno and landed without further incident about 1 in the afternoon after the crew reported the turbulence at about 34,000 feet.

One passenger tweeted the plane did two nose dives in "crazy turbulence" but the Delta crew "handled it perfectly."

Video taken by a passenger shows a toppled snack cart and snacks littering the cabin floor.

Compass Airlines said there were 59 passengers and four crew members on board.