Chaos at 30,000ft: Ryanair flight hit by severe turbulence, eight injured
A Ryanair flight en route from Berlin to Milan was forced to make an emergency landing in southern Germany after encountering severe turbulence, leaving eight passengers injured — including a toddler and a woman with a head injury, German police have confirmed.
The Boeing 737, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, diverted to Memmingen Airport on Wednesday evening after violent thunderstorms made it impossible to land in Munich as scheduled. Local authorities said the flight landed safely at 20:44 local time (18:44 GMT), where it was met by emergency services.
Among the injured was a two-year-old who sustained bruises and a woman treated for a laceration to the head. Another passenger, 59, reported back pain. Three people were taken to the hospital while others received treatment at the scene.
Passengers described moments of panic mid-air as turbulence rocked the cabin, with some reporting being thrown against the ceiling. One mother and her baby were reportedly in the lavatory when the shaking began. Several passengers claimed they had received no warning to fasten their seatbelts.
Ryanair issued a statement apologising for the incident, confirming the diversion was precautionary and that alternative transport had been arranged to Milan that night. A replacement flight departed the next morning after the Southern Bavaria Aviation Authority declined to authorise an immediate onward journey.
Broader Weather Disruption
The incident occurred during widespread storms across southern Germany that caused property damage and disrupted travel. Meteorologists are investigating whether a small tornado may have passed through the region.
This latest turbulence event adds to mounting concerns about the frequency and intensity of in-flight disturbances. Experts suggest that clear-air turbulence, in particular, is becoming more common due to changes in the jet stream linked to global climate change.
"It’s going up because of climate change," said Professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading. "The atmosphere is getting more turbulent."
Data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration shows 163 serious injuries caused by turbulence between 2009 and 2022. While fatal incidents remain rare, the phenomenon is increasingly cited as a major safety concern in commercial aviation.
Sources: BBC, The Mirror
