Passengers Scream and Cry as Plane Makes Emergency Landing

Passengers on a Liverpool-bound Ryanair flight were left screaming and crying after terrifying mid-air turbulence reportedly sent people flying into the ceiling of the plane.

Ryanair flight FR9887 was traveling from Alicante, Spain, to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Friday, July 10, when the plane was forced to make an emergency diversion to Nantes, France, after severe turbulence left several people injured.

The flight was scheduled to leave Alicante at 4:35 p.m., but one passenger told the Liverpool Echo it did not take off until around 6:05 p.m. About an hour into the journey, the flight suddenly turned into what passengers described as a nightmare.

“The captain said it was severe turbulence, but I’ve never known anything like that,” the passenger told the outlet.

“It happened really quick. The plane dropped really bad. Everyone was screaming and crying,” he recalled.

According to the passenger, the violent drop was so intense that cabin crew and some passengers were thrown upward toward the roof of the aircraft.

“The air hostesses went up in the air,” he said. “It levelled off and calmed down for a couple of seconds. Then it went again. During the second time, it was absolutely terrifying.”

The passenger said people began grabbing onto each other in an attempt to keep fellow travelers from being thrown upward.

“Passengers had their hands on people’s shoulders and held them down so they wouldn’t hit the roof,” he said. “It was the most terrifying experience.”

The scene inside the cabin quickly became chaotic, with passengers fearing the worst.

“Everyone was screaming, crying, we all thought we were going to die,” the passenger said. “People were shaking and screaming.”

Drinks reportedly went flying as the turbulence hit. The passenger said coffee ended up on the ceiling, and two girls were left covered in it.

“My friend got covered head to toe in coffee,” he said.

The pilot allegedly told passengers the aircraft had dropped 300 feet in just a few seconds.

The plane was diverted to Nantes Airport, where it landed normally. But once on the ground, emergency crews came aboard to help the injured.

“We had to land in Nantes. The paramedics came on,” the passenger said. “They put one girl in a stretcher. The poor girl hit the roof.”

He also claimed one flight attendant was taken to the hospital with a knee injury and that he saw a man wearing a neck brace.

“When they let us off, they asked every one of us if we needed assistance,” he added.

Passengers then waited in the departure lounge for a replacement aircraft to take them on to Liverpool. The passenger said the aftermath of the terrifying flight was visible everywhere.

“In the lounge, everyone was covered in coffee,” he said. “One guy had blood on his face.”

Ryanair confirmed the flight had experienced turbulence and diverted as a result.

“FR9887 from Alicante to Liverpool Friday, July 10, experienced some air turbulence mid-flight,” a Ryanair spokesperson told the Echo.

“The aircraft diverted and landed normally at Nantes Airport, and a small group of passengers were taken for medical treatment,” the airline said.

Ryanair said a replacement aircraft was arranged and departed for Liverpool at 12:20 a.m. local time.