Ryanair flight in mid-air emergency as ‘multiple passengers injured during turbulence’
A Ryanair flight bound for Tenerife was forced to return to Birmingham after encountering severe turbulence mid-air.
The aircraft left the Second City on Sunday afternoon – but turned back an hour and a half into the journey.
Passengers had been seated for cabin service when the plane ran into a “turbulence bubble”.
Multiple flyers were said to have been injured as a result.
The pilot then declared a general emergency and U-turned mid-air.
Upon landing, the aircraft was directed to a remote stand where emergency crews were waiting.
According to AirLive, medical personnel attended to those on board.
The full extent of injuries sustained by passengers has not yet been confirmed.
Multiple passengers are said to have been injured in the turbulence (file photo) | GETTYA Ryanair spokeswoman confirmed the aircraft touched down without incident.
“FR1121 from Birmingham to Tenerife on December 28 returned to Birmingham Airport shortly after take-off due to air turbulence,” she said.
“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 9.06pm local time.”
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The airline said travellers were able to leave the plane and make their way back to the terminal building in Birmingham (file photo)
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GETTYThe airline said travellers were able to leave the plane and make their way back to the terminal building in Birmingham.
Those requiring treatment received care at the airport before the service resumed its journey later that evening.
A “turbulence bubble” like the one which affected the flight may have been a patch of bumpy air, known as Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT), or a high-altitude turbulent zone which causes sudden drops or lifts.
The flight’s run-in with adverse air conditions comes as various parts of Spain battle extreme weather.
Malaga, including the popular resort town of Marbella, was placed under red alert on Saturday evening as heavy rainfall battered the area.
Valencia remained on alert on Sunday amid torrential downpours and hail.
Marbella has been particularly badly affected, with streets transformed into rivers and floodwater reaching knee height in some areas.
A body was discovered near the Costa del Sol on Sunday afternoon, with authorities confirming the find shortly after 5pm.
The deceased was one of two men, aged 54 and 53, reported missing from Alhaurin el Grande.
The search for the second man continues.
