Southwest flight forced to return to Boston due to strong turbulence

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Southwest Airlines flight from Boston to Chicago had to turn back less than an hour after takeoff due to severe turbulence, which injured three passengers and two flight attendants.

Southwest Flight 147 departed Logan International Airport around 11 p.m. Monday. Around 30 minutes later, the plane started shaking violently.

Nurse and passenger Sherry Sanchez was credited for helping the injured.

"I heard a call overhead for anybody medical, any medical personnel, to please come to the back right away. I'm a nurse, so I went to the back right away. They thought one of the flight attendants might be having a seizure. His eyes were glossed over and he looked like he was going to pass out," Sanchez said.

The pilot decided to turn back and landed safely in Boston, where several ambulances were waiting. Only one was transported to the hospital. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said none of the injuries were serious.

A new flight crew was brought in and 133 passengers made it back to Midway International Airport in Chicago around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, four and a half hours behind schedule.