Passenger Recounts Terrifying Experience on Ryanair Flight Forced to Return to Birmingham
A passenger on a Ryanair flight that had to turn back to Birmingham shared the harrowing experience of passengers being violently thrown from their seats during sudden and unexpected turbulence. The 33-year-old individual from Lichfield, who preferred to remain anonymous, likened the ordeal to a scene from a horror movie. The flight departed from Birmingham Airport around 2:50 pm on Sunday, December 28, and issued an emergency code (squawk 7700) while flying over Brittany, France, after reaching an altitude of 35,000 feet.
According to reports from travelers to The Aviation Herald, the severe turbulence occurred during the meal service, resulting in several injuries. The aircraft changed course and descended to a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet.
The passenger described the unsettling moment, stating, “I was on this flight. It felt like something out of a horror movie. We were cruising smoothly, and then suddenly, the plane sharply veered left and then right without warning. It felt like a lack of control, followed by a sudden descent that threw us out of our seats. While I escaped physical harm, the psychological impact is significant,” as reported by Birmingham Live.
The passenger also mentioned witnessing a fighter jet passing by before the turbulence hit, raising concerns about radar detection of nearby aircraft. Seeking clarity and real answers, the passenger expressed feeling traumatized by the experience. The cabin crew, with a decade of experience, admitted to never encountering such turbulence before.
The aircraft safely landed back in Birmingham approximately an hour and 32 minutes after departure. Upon landing, the plane was directed to a secluded parking area for medical evaluation of passengers, as per AirLive reports.
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror on Sunday evening, stating, “FR1121 from Birmingham to Tenerife on 28th December returned to Birmingham Airport shortly after take-off due to air turbulence. The flight resumed to Tenerife at 21:06 local time after passengers disembarked and were provided medical assistance.”
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