PASSENGERS on a Ryanair flight from Alicante-Elche airport to Liverpool said they feared for their lives after severe turbulence forced an emergency landing in France.
The incident happened last Friday on a Ryanair service that departed from Spain for John Lennon Airport at 4.35pm.
Multiple people were injured before the plane landed in Nantes.
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A passenger told the Liverpool Echo: “The captain said it was severe turbulence but I’ve never known anything like that.”
“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.”
Another passenger told the Echo: “It came out of nowhere. It started with a normal shake, the plane was shaking side to side. Almost instantly, the plane started going down. It was like a horror film.”
“Stuff went flying everywhere. There were four of us in the group, I was there with my girlfriend and two of her friends.”
“We were fine in the moment, a bit frightened and panicked. It lasted for about 20 seconds. It was more so after, and us thinking ‘that was scary’.
“There was an announcement for medically-trained people to help and have IDs ready. The captain made a pretty quick call to divert.”
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “Flight FR9887 from Alicante to Liverpool on 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.”
One passenger responded to Ryanair’s comments via the Echo: “Ryanair’s statement that there was some turbulence mid-flight was definitely putting it a bit mildly.”
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