September 2, 1999
Web posted at: 8:39 PM EDT (0039 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- A United Airlines 737 with 112 people aboard hit severe turbulence during a flight from Los Angeles on Thursday, injuring 17 passengers -- including at least one child -- and two flight attendants.

United Flight 2036, carrying 107 passengers and a crew of five, landed in San Francisco about 90 minutes after takeoff. Paramedics met the flight, and the injured were rushed to hospitals, United said.

A spokesman for San Francisco International Airport said the flight experienced wake turbulence from a larger plane in front of it even though the two planes were at a safe distance from each other.

United spokesman Joe Hopkins said he could not confirm another plane was involved but said the United jetliner experienced "severe turbulence" while flying at an altitude of 24,000 feet.

"The seat belt light was not on, so people were free to move around the cabin," Hopkins said.

Most of the injured suffered "lacerations, bruises and sprains," according to the airport spokesman, but Hopkins said the injuries to a child and the two flight attendants may have been more serious.