Story highlights The flight was headed from Boston to Sacramento

The aircraft was traveling through bad weather, CNN meteorologist says

(CNN) At least 22 passengers and two crew members were taken to a hospital for evaluation after a JetBlue flight experienced rough turbulence Thursday evening, a spokeswoman for the airline said.

JetBlue Flight 429, an Airbus A320, was headed from Boston to Sacramento, but had to be diverted to Rapid City, South Dakota, at about 6:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. ET), spokeswoman Katherine McMillan said. The A320 can seat up to 150 passengers.

Passenger Derek Lindahl said a woman sitting in front of him rose 2 feet into the air in the cabin at one point because she wasn't wearing a seat belt.

"I literally grabbed her out of the air to hold her to the seat," said Lindahl, a software engineer from Sacramento.

Rhonda Renee, another passenger, said the turbulence was like a bad dream.