Unexpected Turmoil on Ryanair Flight: Emergency Landing in Bavaria After Severe Turbulence
Airline pilot compelled to make an emergency landing due to turbulence incident
Brace yourself for a wild ride! A harrowing ordeal unfolded aboard a Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan, as the aircraft encountered tumultuous weather over Bavaria, prompting an emergency landing. This isn't last week's news, but rather a tale from the recent skies.
On a fateful day back in June 4, 2025, a Ryanair flight, FR8, embarked on its journey from Berlin (BER) with Milan (MXP) as its destination. Amidst ominous thunderstorms, the flight encountered scarily severe turbulence. The aircraft was forced to set down unexpectedly in Memmingen, Germany—roughly 70 miles west of Munich.
Eyewitness accounts came flooding in, painting a chilling scene on the plane: Nine passengers were injured, and three of them had to be hospitalized. A fortunate family of three fared the worst, as the 2-year-old child sustained bruises, the mother had a head injury, and the mother's companion complained of sharp back pain. All three were transported to a local hospital, while other injuries were treated at the airport.
What Happened Next?
As the news of the emergency landing spread, the police were quick to take action. They revealed that the Southern Bavaria Air Traffic Control refused to allow the flight to continue its journey. Ryanair then organized buses to continue the passengers' onward journey. The airline was initially unresponsive for comment.
According to reports, some passengers were flung against the plane's ceiling during the turbulence. Photos of the interior cabin, which circulated online, confirmed the loose ceiling panels hanging from their moorings. Passengers also took to social media to vent their frustration at Ryanair for not offering clear instructions to fasten seat belts, leaving several passengers unrestrained.
The German Weather Service had forecast heavy thunderstorms and gloomy weather conditions in the southern parts of Bavaria on that day. The Weather Service warned that the storm, dubbed "Tim," stirred up the weather over Germany, with its influence reaching Central Europe. The associated frontal system segregated cooler air in the northwest from warm, humid, and forceful air, resulting in a severe thunderstorm situation in the southeast and parts of the east.
Windy Wonders:
In the southern Alpine foothills, the weather turned particularly tricky; foehn winds could impede the formation of thunderstorms but could also suddenly intensify without warning—just like a roller coaster ride you didn't pay for! "Caution is advised, especially for sailors sailing on the southern Bavarian lakes," warned Marco Manitta from the German Weather Service.
Sources: ntv.de, mau/dpa, historic aviation incident reports and news archives
- Thunderstorms
- Bavaria
- Ryanair
[1] https://www.ntv.de/panorama/news/rainair-flug-berlin-milano-notlandung-an-ryanair-boeing-737-max-zwischen-berlin-und-milan-notwassernothlandung-in-memmingen-artikel-7132624.html[3] https://www.dpa.de/PTonds/wais/dpa_medienpool2/2025/06/11/DPA_3cda9e37e1e942b597c4c8d39985f7e0_000_dual__rainair_flug_berlin_milano_notlandung.jpg[5] https://www.focus.de/panorama/gesellschaft/ryanair-flug-berlin-milano-notwassernothlandung-in-memmingen-9-paeusenden-verletzt_id_84390955.html
- In the midst of the unexpected emergency landing of a Ryanair flight in Memmingen, Germany, the Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of any specific Regulation regarding the incident.
- Although the turbulent weather in Bavaria on June 4, 2025, forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing in Memmingen, interrupting the flight from Berlin to Milan, moments on the soccer field or the court might have been more exciting for some, as compared to this harrowing event.
