Turbulence Injures Four on Northwest Airlines Flight to Japan

TOKYO (AP) -- A Northwest Airlines flight from Saipan to Japan carrying 362 people hit severe turbulence over the Pacific Ocean, injuring four people on board, and was forced to make an emergency landing at a Tokyo airport, an official and media reports said.

The Kyodo News Agency, citing authorities, said the plane was about 56 miles south of Narita airport when it hit turbulence at an altitude of nearly 15,000 feet. Flight 75 was carrying 349 passengers and 13 crew members, public broadcaster NHK said.

Airport spokesman Koitsu Ito said crew members told authorities at Narita airport there were some injuries on board.

A passenger from Tokyo, who was not injured, told Kyodo she felt a sudden shock and saw some other passengers, who were not wearing their seatbelts, thrown to the floor.

Two female flight attendants, both U.S. citizens, and two Japanese passengers, aged 21 and 18, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Kyodo said, citing fire officials.

The incident occurred 15 minutes before the scheduled landing, Northwest Airlines officials said. The seatbelt sign was turned on, they said.