Lindsey Vonn -- Airlifted to Hospital After Skiing Accident

Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to a hospital in Austria today after a frightening crash during the Alpine World Championships in Schladming.

Vonn lost her balance after landing awkwardly from a jump ... losing her ski and skidding into a gate. Doctors evaluated Vonn for more than ten minutes on the slope before she was loaded on to a helicopter and flown to a nearby hospital.

According to reports, the doctor who examined Vonn says he believes she suffered a tibial plateau fracture -- also known as a break in the shinbone.

Doctors say Vonn also tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee in the crash -- and will require surgery. A rep for the U.S. Ski Team says the squad is hopeful Vonn will return for the 2013-14 season.