Plane Passengers Get ‘Flung Out of Their Seats’ During Terrifying Mid-Flight Turbulence

The flight, which was traveling from Birmingham, England, to Tenerife, took off around 3:05 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, and climbed to roughly 37,000 feet before chaos erupted midair. About 40 minutes into the journey, the pilot issued the emergency 7700 squawk code while over the French coast and made the decision to return to Birmingham, according to multiple U.K. outlets.

One shaken passenger said the aircraft suddenly jolted without warning, describing a scene that felt straight out of a nightmare.

“We were smooth cruising, then out of nowhere the plane jerked violently left and then right,” the woman said. “It felt like a total loss of control. Then we dropped and people were flung out of their seats. It was like something from a horror movie.”

The 33-year-old passenger said she escaped without physical injuries but admitted the psychological impact was severe. She also claimed cabin crew members told passengers they had never experienced turbulence that intense in their decade-long careers.

Ryanair confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the aircraft returned shortly after takeoff due to air turbulence. The plane landed normally, though a small number of passengers required medical assistance after disembarking.

The airline added that the flight later resumed and successfully departed for Tenerife at 9:06 p.m. local time.

A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said airport staff followed standard procedures once the aircraft returned and worked to support the airline and passengers.