A passenger described the terrifying moment a Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Tenerife encountered severe turbulence at 35,000ft, forcing an emergency return
A passenger aboard a Ryanair flight forced to turn back to Birmingham has revealed how travellers were ‘hurled from their seats’ during a terrifying ordeal that saw the aircraft lurch violently without warning.
The 33-year-old from Lichfield, who asked not to be named, described the harrowing experience as “like something from a horror movie”. The aircraft took off from Birmingham Airport at around 2.50pm on Sunday, December 28 and transmitted an emergency code (squawk 7700) whilst flying over Brittany, France, after climbing to 35,000ft.
Travellers informed The Aviation Herald that the severe turbulence struck during the meal service, leaving several people injured. The aircraft reversed course and dropped to FL100 (cruising at 10,000ft).
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The passenger revealed: “I was on this flight. It felt like something you see on a horror movie. We were smooth cruising then, out of nowhere all of a sudden, the plane jerked to the left extremely quickly and then to the right.
“It felt like a loss of control, and then we plummeted down and we were flung out of our seats. I came out physically unharmed but the mental toll this has taken it awful,” reports Birmingham Live.
“Other passengers said to me they saw a fighter jet pass us by just before it happened. How do you not pick up on a planes radar other planes in the area? It doesn’t make sense.
“Who knows – I would like real answers though this has really traumatised me. The cabin crew said within their 10 years as cabin crew they’ve never experienced anything like it.”
The aircraft made a safe landing back at Birmingham about an hour and 32 minutes after its initial departure. As reported by AirLive, the plane was directed to an isolated parking bay where medical personnel could assess passengers.
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror on Sunday evening: “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 and returned to the terminal, where a small number of passengers were provided with medical assistance. This flight continued to Tenerife at 21:06 local.”