Passengers aboard a Liverpool-bound flight “thought they were going to die” after severe mid-air turbulence hurled both travellers and cabin crew into the ceiling of the aircraft. Ryanair flight FR 9887 was scheduled to depart Alicante at 4.35pm, bound for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) on Friday, July 10.
Two passengers have revealed how the flight was forced to make an emergency diversion to Nantes in France, following the violent turbulence that left several people injured – a fact later confirmed by Ryanair. One passenger, returning to Liverpool with a friend after a group holiday, told how the flight eventually took off at 6.05pm, more than an hour behind schedule.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he described how the harrowing turbulence struck approximately an hour into the flight, launching passengers and cabin crew towards the ceiling. He said: “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.
“Passengers had their hands on people’s shoulders and held them down so they wouldn’t hit the roof. It was the most terrifying experience.
“Everyone was screaming, crying, we all thought we were going to die. People were shaking and screaming. If you had a drink, it was on the ceiling, two girls were covered in coffee.
“My friend got covered head to toe in coffee. The pilot said it dropped 300 feet in a couple of seconds.
“We had to land in Nates. The paramedics came on. They put one girl in a stretcher. The poor girl hit the roof.
“One of the air hostesses was taken to hospital, she had a knee injury. I saw a man with a neck brace on. When they let us off, they asked every one of us if we needed assistance.”
The passenger revealed that he and fellow travellers were held in the departure lounge before a replacement aircraft eventually transported them to LJLA. He added: “In the lounge, everyone was covered in coffee. One guy had blood on his face.”
When approached for comment, a Ryanair spokesperson told the ECHO: “FR9887 from Alicante to Liverpool Friday, July 10, experienced some air turbulence mid-flight.
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“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.”
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