‘Screaming’ Ryanair passengers given medical therapy after ‘terrifying’ turbulence
Ryanair flight FR 9887 was due to fly from Alicante to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Friday, July 10, but was forced to divert to Nantes in France after severe turbulence left multiple passengers and crew injured
Emergency services were wafting for the flight at Nantes Airport in France(Image: Supplied)
Passengers on a flight bound for Liverpool “thought they were going to die” as turbulence sent travellers and cabin crew hurtling into the plane’s ceiling.
The Ryanair flight FR 9887 was scheduled to depart from Alicante at 4:35pm, heading for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) on Friday, July 10.
However, two passengers have said that the flight had to be diverted to Nantes in France due to severe turbulence which resulted in multiple injuries, a fact later confirmed by Ryanair. One passenger, who was returning to Liverpool with a friend after a group holiday, revealed that the flight took off later than planned at 6.05pm.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he recounted how the terrifying turbulence started about an hour into the journey, with some passengers and cabin crew hitting into the ceiling of the aircraft. He said: “The captain said it was severe turbulence but I’ve never known anything like that.
The flight had to be diverted (stock)(Image: Boarding1Now via Getty Images)
“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.
Ryanair confirmed a small group of passenger were taken for medical treatment(Image: Supplied)
“We had to land in Nantes. 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 traveller revealed he and fellow passengers waited in the departure lounge before a replacement aircraft eventually transported them to LJLA.
He explained: “In the lounge, everyone was covered in coffee. One guy had blood on his face.”
A Ryanair spokesperson told the ECHO: “FR9887 from Alicante to Liverpool 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.”
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