American Airlines flight hit by major turbulence leaving seven people injured

'I really thought that was it,' passenger says

An ambulance next to the plane at St John's International Airport, Newfoundland (AP)

A passenger jet was hit by major turbulence, leaving seven people injured and forcing the captain to make an emergency landing.

The American Airlines flight carrying 192 passengers and 11 crew was travelling from Miami to Milan when it was diverted to Newfloundland in Eastern Canada.

On landing, four passengers and three flight attendants were taken by ambulance to hospital for "further evaluation", according to ABC News.

"It rolled on its side. Everything went flying. It was pretty intense," passenger Karen Case told CBC in Canada.

She said the plane dipped two times, adding: "I really thought that was it."

The airline's spokesman Ross Feinstein said: "We are taking care of our passengers and crew, and we are working on next steps to get them safely to their destination."