Emergency Landing: Ryanair Flight Forced to Touch Down Due to Chaotic Skies over Germany
Pilot of Ryanair aircraft compelled to execute an emergency landing due to turbulence.
Be prepared for a rollercoaster ride in the sky! A Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan faced unexpected turbulence, forcing an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport in Bavaria. Confirming the incident, authorities revealed that there were several casualties, with the latest tally clocking in at nine—including one crew member.
According to a police spokesperson, seven passengers and one cabin crew member sustained injuries. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening, with around three of them requiring hospitalization. A female passenger sustained a head wound, yet none of the injured were critically ill[4].
Initially, the airline was tough to reach, but later, the news broke that all passengers were attended to by emergency services and provided assistance. Subsequently, Ryanair arranged for bus transportation to help the passengers reach their destination[5].
Social media posts showcased the aftermath of the incident, with photos revealing loose ceiling panels hanging down, indicating the intensity of the turbulence that unfolded on board. Passengers also grumbled that there were no instructions to fasten seatbelts, and several passengers were found unsecured[6].
Before this dramatic event, the German Meteorological Service had predicted harsh thunderstorms in the southern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg for the afternoon hours. As storm 'Tim' swept across the North Atlantic, it stirred up severe weather in Germany, giving rise to a 'stormy weather situation' in the southeast and parts of the east[7].
Storm 'Tim' influenced a frontal system that cut through Germany, dividing cooler air in the northwest from warm, humid, and vigorous air, causing a volatile weather atmosphere[7]. The southern Alpine foothills posed particular dangers, as the föhn wind might prevent the formation of thunderstorms. However, in a rare occurrence called föhn collapse, the wind can abruptly intensify to storm force without any warning[7]. Therefore, sailors were advised to be cautious while navigating the lakes in the southern regions of Bavaria[7].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- mau/dpa
- Bild
- Marco Manitta from the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach
- A passenger plane experiencing turbulence was forced to make an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport in Bavaria.
- Passengers have also criticized Ryanair, claiming there were no instructions to fasten seatbelts
- Prior to this, the German Weather Service had predicted severe thunderstorms in the southern parts of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg for the afternoon.
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of this Regulation in the context of car-accidents or general-news related to accidents, but it is worth noting that the Regulation could potentially play a role in ensuring safety measures are in place for aviation incidents, like the Ryanair flight that recently experienced turbulence and resulted in nine injuries on board [1, 5, 6], with all passengers eventually reaching their destination without further incident [5].
