A Ryanair flight was forced into a dramatic U-turn and emergency landing after being struck by severe turbulence, with an onboard doctor stating passengers were 'lucky to be alive' following the terrifying ordeal.
Mid-Air Horror Over France
The incident occurred on Sunday, 28th December. The Boeing 737-8 MAX, operating as flight FR1121 from Birmingham Airport to Tenerife, departed at approximately 2.50pm. The trouble began while the aircraft was flying over Brittany in France, just as cabin crew were conducting their service.
Passengers described a sudden and violent encounter. One woman told the Express the journey was smooth until, without warning, the plane began 'jerking left and right'. 'It felt like a loss of control, and then we plummeted down, and we were flung out of our seats,' she recounted, adding that while physically unharmed, she had been left 'traumatised' by the event.
'A Horror Scene' Onboard
A doctor who was on the flight and assisted the injured provided a harrowing account to both Metro and AirLive. 'I treated the injured onboard and we are all lucky to be alive,' he stated. He described the cabin as resembling a 'horror scene with screaming kids and people all around', but praised the calm response of passengers and crew who swiftly called for medical assistance.
Faced with the situation, the pilots declared a general emergency by issuing a Squawk 7700 code. The aircraft then turned back towards the UK, landing safely at Birmingham Airport roughly one hour and 32 minutes after it had originally taken off.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Upon landing, passengers were met with medical support. A Birmingham Airport spokesperson confirmed they had activated normal operating procedures to support Ryanair and its passengers following the aircraft's return.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'FR1121 from Birmingham to Tenerife on 28th December returned to Birmingham Airport shortly after take-off due to air turbulence. The aircraft landed normally before passengers disembarked... where a small number of passengers were provided with medical assistance.'
The same aircraft later resumed its journey to Tenerife, departing Birmingham at 9.06pm local time that evening.
What Causes Air Turbulence?
Turbulence occurs when the smooth flow of air over an aircraft's wings is disrupted, causing sudden shakes or a temporary loss of altitude. It ranges from mild to violent. While not a direct cause of plane crashes, severe turbulence can cause serious injuries to unbuckled passengers and crew, which is why airlines emphasise keeping seatbelts fastened whenever seated.
