Ryanair passengers injured after storm throws ‘people against cabin roof’

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing (Picture: AP)

Nine people have been injured after a Ryanair flight ran into turbulence so severe that one passenger thought the plane would ‘break apart’.

The storm slammed into the flight carrying 179 passengers and six crew on Wednesday evening as it flew from Berlin to Milan.

The pilot made an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport, 350 miles away from the German capital, at around 8.30pm (7.30pm UK time).

Eight people and a staff member were injured, with three taken to the hospital, including a two-year-old who suffered bruises.

A woman also suffered a head wound and another experienced back pain as they were reportedly thrown against the cabin roof and walls.

A passenger told BILD: ‘I’ve never been scared before but at that moment, I thought the plane was going to break apart or roll over.’

A toddler was taken to the hospital for bruising, police said (Picture: Facebook) The plane landed safely (Picture: Facebook) Aviation officials refused to let the plane resume its flight that evening (Picture: Jason Tschepljakow/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Plane staff did not warn the passengers about the turbulence, local media reported, with a passenger saying the scene was ‘chaotic and dangerous’.

Flight data shows the aircraft soaring over the Czech border when it swings towards Memmingen instead, landing at 8.46pm.

Authorities refused to let flight FR8 continue its flight to Milan after landing, instead organising shuttle buses for the passengers.

German weather officials warned yesterday that ‘treacherous’ thunderstorms, large hail and heavy rain would pound the southeast.

The stormy weather was so intense in Germany yesterday that fire officials reported a ‘small tornado’ tore through Donaustetten, Ulm, tearing the roofs off houses.

No one was injured.

The scene was ‘chaotic’, one passenger said (Picture: AP)

Ryanair told Metro: ‘FR8 from Berlin to Milan on June 4 diverted to Memmingen after experiencing some air turbulence.

‘The captain called ahead for medical assistance and the aircraft landed normally.

‘To get passengers to their final destination as quickly as possible, we arranged for alternative transport from Memmingen to Milan that night, as well as a replacement flight this morning.

‘We sincerely apologise to passengers affected by this diversion.’

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