PHOENIX – Several people were treated for injuries after a flight from Seattle to Phoenix experienced severe turbulence Thursday afternoon.

According to Alaska Airlines officials, the Alaska Airlines flight was en route to Phoenix around 2:30 p.m. when it encountered turbulence.

According to the FAA, the flight landed at 3:10 p.m. after crew members reported a medical emergency due to turbulence. The FAA is investigating.

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At the gate, medics found several crew members and a passenger.

In a statement regarding the incident, Alaska Airlines said: We apologize for any concerns this experience may have caused our guests. We thank our dedicated crew for their skill and professionalism in responding to this situation and are assisting them in seeking additional medical assistance.”

12News spoke with two Valley pilots, both of whom have thousands of hours of flying experience. They say extreme turbulence is rare.

“I’ve experienced severe turbulence maybe a half-dozen times over the course of my career, and sometimes it’s like riding up and down on a big wave,” said Capt. Ron Nielson, a former commercial airline pilot.

Valley pilot John Washington says vertical air currents can develop over the Pacific Northwest, causing bumpy rides aboard aircraft.

“There are some unusual weather events up there that make them a little difficult to predict, but I think they generally do a pretty good job, and in general these are pretty rare events,” Washington said.

Experts say flight attendants and young children are most at risk from turbulence-related injuries. This is because flight attendants are often not in their seats and children under two years old are not required to wear seatbelts.

“We recommend putting her in an FAA-approved seat,” said Cpt. Nielson on flying with small children. “You don’t have to be paranoid, but always keep your seatbelt fastened so that the two fit together and you are.”I won’t get hurt.

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