A routine Wizz Air flight from the sunny shores of Lanzarote to London Luton was thrown into chaos on Wednesday afternoon after the aircraft encountered severe and unexpected turbulence.
The Airbus A321, carrying passengers home from holiday, was forced to declare an emergency and perform a rapid diversion to Valencia Airport on Spain's eastern coast. The sudden mid-air event resulted in injuries to both passengers and members of the cabin crew.
Emergency services at Valencia Airport were placed on high alert, with multiple ambulances, firefighters, and police vehicles scrambling to the scene to meet the aircraft upon its arrival. The scale of the response underscored the seriousness of the situation as the plane touched down.
Early reports from passengers on board flight W9 7114 describe a terrifying few moments as the plane shook violently. One traveller recounted the scene as 'utter panic' with unsecured items flying through the cabin.
Wizz Air has confirmed the incident, stating, "The aircraft landed safely and was met by emergency services upon arrival to provide assistance to those injured. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our number one priority."
The airline has also initiated its customer support protocol, working to re-accommodate affected passengers on alternative flights to their final destination in the UK. An investigation into the cause of the sudden turbulence is likely to be conducted by the relevant aviation authorities.
