TOKYO, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Air turbulence left 37 passengers injured when their plane was to land on the Narita airport outside Tokyo on Monday evening.

    The injuries were not life-threatening but 12 of the injured needed to be hospitalized, Kyodo News reported, quoting police and transport ministry officials.

    The Airbus A330-200 of EVA Air with 267 passengers and crew members was hit by air turbulence at 6:11 p.m. (0911 GMT) and madean emergency landing at Narita about 18 minutes later.

    The Flight 2196 from Taipei of China's Taiwan Province was flying at an altitude of about 5,500 meters over the Pacific Oceanwhen the turbulence struck.

    Passengers onboard said the plane rapidly lost altitude right after an announcement that the aircraft was entering an area of turbulence, according to the report. The seatbelt sign was on at the time but some people were thrown off their seats and hit the ceiling, they said. Enditem