A Ryanair flight bound for Tenerife was forced to return to Birmingham Airport on Sunday after encountering severe turbulence that left multiple passengers injured. The Boeing 737 MAX departed from Birmingham at 2.50pm and climbed to 35,000 feet before the crew declared an emergency while over French airspace.
The aircraft landed back at Birmingham 1 hour and 32 minutes after takeoff and was parked on a remote stand to allow emergency services to assist those onboard. According to reports, the plane experienced a sudden drop and roll, causing passengers to be thrown from their seats and hit their heads. One passenger reported that a serving trolley struck a woman's hand, requiring medical attention.
In a statement, Ryanair confirmed that flight FR1121 returned to Birmingham shortly after takeoff due to air turbulence. The airline said the aircraft landed normally and a small number of passengers received medical assistance. The flight later departed for Tenerife at 21:06 local time.
The incident is under investigation, and Ryanair has been contacted for further details.
