B767-300 CABIN ATTENDANT AND CAPT RPT SEVERE TURB DURING 2 DIFFERENT RWY APCHS RESULTING IN MALFUNCTIONING WING SLATS AND DIVERSION TO ANOTHER ARPT.

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CAPT ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO PREPARE FOR LNDG AT JFK EARLIER THAN USUAL DUE TO RPTS OF TURB AT LOWER ALTS. PAX AND CABIN CREW WERE SEATED WHEN THE PLANE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. MY JUMP SEAT IS IN THE FIRST CLASS GALLEY SO I COULD ONLY IMAGINE HOW BAD IT WAS IN COACH. THE SHAKING PROBABLY LASTED 5-7 MINS; BUT IT SEEMED MUCH LONGER. THERE WERE 70 MPH WINDS. THE RWY CLOSED AND WE WERE DIRECTED TO ANOTHER RWY. AGAIN; AS WE MADE OUR APCH; THE PLANE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. I MENTALLY PREPARED MYSELF FOR AN EMER LNDG. I REALLY DID NOT WANT TO LAND AT JFK THAT BADLY. IN 34+ YRS OF FLYING; THIS WAS IN THE TOP 5. WE WERE RELIEVED WHEN THE CREW DECIDED TO GO TO ANOTHER ARPT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT; THE ACFT DEVELOPED A PROB WITH THE SLATS. WE ENDED UP LNDG IN RICHMOND; VA WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FIRE TRUCKS MET OUR FLT ON LNDG. ASIDE FROM ALL THE PAX THAT 'THREW UP;' EVERYONE WAS FINE AND GRATEFUL TO BE ON THE GND. THE COCKPIT SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR FLYING ABILITY AND SOMEHOW MANAGING CTL OF THE ACFT DURING THAT VIOLENT SHAKING AS WELL FOR THEIR DECISION NOT TO LAND AT JFK. THE CAPT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF KEEPING FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX INFORMED. I THANK THE COCKPIT FOR KEEPING US SAFE. THEY ARE MY HEROES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 542670: ON APCH TO JFK WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE HAD A SLAT DISAGREE LIGHT AND WE CONTINUED TO ENCOUNTER MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. AT THAT TIME WE DECLARED AN EMER AND ULTIMATELY DIVERTED TO RICHMOND. BECAUSE OF TURB WE WERE UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH OUR ASSIGNED HEADINGS AND ALTS.