Violent mid-air turbulence during a Ryanair flight bound for Liverpool saw passengers and cabin crew thrown into the ceiling of the plane, witnesses said
Passengers on board a Ryanair flight bound for the UK believed they were “going to die” after being thrown into plane’s ceiling during violent mid-air turbulence.
Ryanair flight FR 9887 was scheduled to leave Alicante at 4.35pm on July 10 and land at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA).
The plane was forced to divert to Nantes, France, after severe turbulence left several people injured, the airline later confirmed.
One passenger told how the flight eventually took off at 6.05pm before passengers and cabin crew were shoved into the ceiling and left “screaming and crying”.
“The captain said it was severe turbulence but I’ve never known anything like that,” the traveller told the Liverpool Echo. “It happened really quick. The plane dropped really bad. Everyone was screaming and crying.
“The air hostesses went up in the air. It levelled off and calmed down for a couple of seconds. Then it went again. During the second time, it was absolutely terrifying,” the passenger added.
“Passengers had their hands on people’s shoulders and held them down so they wouldn’t hit the roof. It was the most terrifying experience.
“Everyone was screaming, crying, we all thought we were going to die. People were shaking and screaming. If you had a drink, it was on the ceiling, two girls were covered in coffee.
“My friend got covered head to toe in coffee. The pilot said it dropped 300 feet in a couple of seconds.
“We had to land in Nates. The paramedics came on. They put one girl in a stretcher. The poor girl hit the roof.
“One of the air hostesses was taken to hospital, she had a knee injury. I saw a man with a neck brace on. When they let us off, they asked every one of us if we needed assistance.”
The passenger revealed that he and fellow travellers were held in the departure lounge before a replacement aircraft eventually transported them to LJLA. He added: “In the lounge, everyone was covered in coffee. One guy had blood on his face.”
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “FR9887 from Alicante to Liverpool Friday, July 10, experienced some air turbulence mid-flight.
“The aircraft diverted and landed normally at Nantes Airport, and a small group of passengers were taken for medical treatment.
“A replacement aircraft was arranged and departed for Liverpool at 12.20am local time.”