PHOENIX — At least 36 people have been injured, 11 seriously, after a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu was hit by severe turbulence.

The incident happened shortly before the aircraft, carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew, came in to land on Sunday.

Twenty people were taken to local hospitals with injuries ranging from lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness to head injuries.

Thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time of the turbulence.

Flight HA35 landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 10:50 (20:50 GMT) on Sunday.

In a statement from Hawaiian Airlines read: "Medical care was provided to several guests & crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to local hospitals for further care."

Of the 20 people taken to hospital, 17 were passengers and three were crew members. A 14-month-old baby and a teenager are among them.

The airline said it was conducting a "thorough investigation" of the plane - an Airbus A330 - before it returns to service. — BBC