Passenger catapulted by severe turbulence: Flight makes emergency landing
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Disclaimer: This article contains information about events that may traumatise some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Air travel has long been heralded as one of the safest modes of transportation, but for passengers aboard a recent Air Europa flight, a routine journey quickly turned into a scene straight out of a disaster movie.
Turbulence, often a mere inconvenience during flights, escalated to a nightmarish level, resulting in injuries and chaos mid-air.
The incident occurred on Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flight UX045, en route from Spain to Uruguay.
As the aircraft cruised over the Atlantic Ocean, it encountered severe turbulence so powerful that it sent passengers flying from their seats.
One man experienced a particularly shocking ordeal when he was catapulted into the overhead bins, his feet dangling helplessly as fellow passengers scrambled to assist him.
Those on board captured the harrowing event on video, showing the aftermath of the turbulence.
Ceiling panels were ripped from their fixtures, oxygen masks swung from above, and the cabin was strewn with debris. The force of the impact even destroyed one seat.
The cries of a baby and the concerned voices of passengers provided a haunting soundtrack to the visual chaos.
With 325 passengers, the flight was forced to land in Natal, north-eastern Brazil.
‘The plane has landed normally, and the injuries of varying degrees that were recorded are already being treated,' Air Europa stated.
The airline's statement sought to reassure the public, but the experience was nothing short of traumatic for those involved.
Passengers like Norys, returning home from a European tour, recounted the aircraft's sudden descent.
‘A long time after that, there was a very, very slight turbulence, it was barely felt, and from one moment to the next the plane abruptly fell and we all went up,’ he said.
‘Those who did not have seatbelts flew, and some remained hooked to the roof,’
Despite the captain's warning and the initial mild turbulence, nothing could have prepared them for the violent plunge that followed.
Norys described how those not wearing seatbelts were flung into the air, some even becoming 'hooked to the roof.'
Another passenger, Juan, likened the experience to a 'horror movie' and a near-death encounter.
‘And you are aware that you are falling at an incalculable speed. And you felt that it ended there, that you died.’
Uruguay's Foreign Ministry coordinated with local hospitals to ensure that the injured received proper care after the incident.
Transportation was also arranged to return the affected passengers to Montevideo.
For its part, Air Europa dispatched a replacement aircraft to transport any remaining passengers who chose not to complete their journey by bus.
In similar news, former Western Australia Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan sustained a bruised face and broken ribs during severe turbulence on an Emirates flight.
The incident injured a dozen passengers and several crew members, causing chaos as some passengers were thrown into the ceiling. Read more about this story here.
Have you ever encountered a situation like this? How did you and the airline handle it? We’d love to hear your stories and experiences in the comments below.
Air travel has long been heralded as one of the safest modes of transportation, but for passengers aboard a recent Air Europa flight, a routine journey quickly turned into a scene straight out of a disaster movie.
Turbulence, often a mere inconvenience during flights, escalated to a nightmarish level, resulting in injuries and chaos mid-air.
The incident occurred on Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flight UX045, en route from Spain to Uruguay.
As the aircraft cruised over the Atlantic Ocean, it encountered severe turbulence so powerful that it sent passengers flying from their seats.
One man experienced a particularly shocking ordeal when he was catapulted into the overhead bins, his feet dangling helplessly as fellow passengers scrambled to assist him.
Severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean injured over 30 people on an Air Europa flight. Credit: @pichipastoso / X
Those on board captured the harrowing event on video, showing the aftermath of the turbulence.
Ceiling panels were ripped from their fixtures, oxygen masks swung from above, and the cabin was strewn with debris. The force of the impact even destroyed one seat.
The cries of a baby and the concerned voices of passengers provided a haunting soundtrack to the visual chaos.
With 325 passengers, the flight was forced to land in Natal, north-eastern Brazil.
‘The plane has landed normally, and the injuries of varying degrees that were recorded are already being treated,' Air Europa stated.
The airline's statement sought to reassure the public, but the experience was nothing short of traumatic for those involved.
Passengers like Norys, returning home from a European tour, recounted the aircraft's sudden descent.
‘A long time after that, there was a very, very slight turbulence, it was barely felt, and from one moment to the next the plane abruptly fell and we all went up,’ he said.
‘Those who did not have seatbelts flew, and some remained hooked to the roof,’
Despite the captain's warning and the initial mild turbulence, nothing could have prepared them for the violent plunge that followed.
Norys described how those not wearing seatbelts were flung into the air, some even becoming 'hooked to the roof.'
Another passenger, Juan, likened the experience to a 'horror movie' and a near-death encounter.
‘The sensation was one of terror, feeling that you are falling and that it does not end,’ he said.‘And you are aware that you are falling at an incalculable speed. And you felt that it ended there, that you died.’
Uruguay's Foreign Ministry coordinated with local hospitals to ensure that the injured received proper care after the incident.
Transportation was also arranged to return the affected passengers to Montevideo.
For its part, Air Europa dispatched a replacement aircraft to transport any remaining passengers who chose not to complete their journey by bus.
In similar news, former Western Australia Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan sustained a bruised face and broken ribs during severe turbulence on an Emirates flight.
The incident injured a dozen passengers and several crew members, causing chaos as some passengers were thrown into the ceiling. Read more about this story here.
Have you ever encountered a situation like this? How did you and the airline handle it? We’d love to hear your stories and experiences in the comments below.
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