Severe Turbulence Injures Passengers on United Airways Flight to Los Angeles

(July 21) -- A United Airlines flight was cruising at 34,000 feet toward Los Angeles with drinks sitting on tray tables when severe turbulence lurched the jetliner, sending the cabin into disarray and injuring 25 of the 265 people aboard, the airline said today.

"I saw at least two people hit the ceiling," passenger Alexander Walan told ABC News of Tuesday night's scare. "A girl in front of me -- two rows -- I saw her hit the ceiling and slam back down."

Though the seat belt sign was on when the turbulence rocked Flight 967 over Kansas, not all of the 255 passengers were strapped into their seats.

"It felt like I had gone down an elevator shaft and hit the bottom and came back up," passenger Diane Atwood told Denver's KUSA-TV. "If you didn't have your seat belt on, you got hurt."

The flight from Washington's Dulles International Airport to LAX was diverted to Denver. Medics ushered injured passengers to five hospitals, according to reports.

Though initial reports estimated as many as 30 passengers sustained injuries, at least one critically, United said 21 passengers were hurt, plus four flight attendants.

"The crew put safety first and immediately diverted the aircraft to Denver to get medical attention as quickly as possible for those who were injured," United said.

Most of the injuries were "walking injuries" such as bruises, sprains and whiplash, Denver Fire Department spokesman Eric Tade told The Denver Post.

Passengers recalled screaming, panicking and objects hurtling through the air.

"For those couple of seconds I just saw people fly up in front of me, and actually the lady sitting beside me ... hit the ceiling and landed on my lap," Liu told ABC's "Good Morning America."

"It was just a big drop and all the wine glasses and everything went flying," passenger Yoni Malachi told KUSA. "There was drink all over the ceiling."

Officials said it was unclear what caused the turbulence, although some bad weather was reported.