Chaotic Skies: Emergency Landing of Ryanair Plane in Memmingen Amidst Storms - Damage in Ulm
severe Air Travel Mishap: Aviation Incident Causing Injuries on Board - South End Suffers Damages - Plane Accident Results in Injuries; South Suffers Damage from Hurricane
Let's get down to it
A wild weather event unfolded in southern Germany on Wednesday, causing quite a stir. A passenger plane bound for Milan from Berlin was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Memmingen Airport due to a turbulent journey. This harrowing experience left eight passengers and a crew member injured, with three of them requiring hospitalization[1][3][4]. Despite initial reports suggesting a tornado as the culprit, it was the intense turbulence triggered by storms in the area that caused the aviation mishap.
The unlucky plane was identified as a Ryanair flight. At around 8:25 PM, the aircraft encountered such severe turbulence that it left seven passengers and a crew member with injuries[1]. Three of the injured passengers had to go to the hospital - a two-year-old child sustained bruises, a woman suffered a head wound, and another passenger complained of back pain. The original report had nine injuries[1].
In a statement, a Ryanair spokesperson confirmed the plane was diverted to Memmingen Airport due to the sudden turbulence. The captain also requested medical assistance, ensuring a smooth landing[1]. The majority of passengers continued their journey to Milan by bus during the night, with a replacement flight set for the next morning. The Southern Bavaria Air Traffic Control declined any continuation of the flight that night, according to police[1].
Swirls or Storm?
Emergency services were just as busy that night by the tornado-suspected storm's aftermath. The storm ravaged several houses in Ulm, leaving some uninhabitable. The fire department in the Donaustetten district reported that the roofs of several row houses were blown off, making them unfit for occupation[1]. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The fire department speculates that a "small wind tunnel" that passed through two to three streets, based on eyewitness accounts, might have caused the destruction[1].
The German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach considers the possibility of a tornado sighting. DWD meteorologist Adrian Leyser stated that a short-lived tornado cannot be ruled out, but an on-site damage analysis is necessary to draw solid conclusions[1]. In the DWD's vein, a tornado is a rotating column of air with ground contact that revolves around a predominantly vertical axis under a cumulonimbus cloud[1].
Due to the heavy thunderstorms, the police and fire services in Bavaria responded to over 200 incidents[1]. The primary incidents included fallen trees and flooded basements in northern Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, the Upper Palatinate, and Swabia.
A Cyclist's Misfortune
The storm did more than just damage buildings – it claimed a cyclist as a victim. On Wednesday evening in Manching near Ingolstadt, the cyclist collided with a tree that had fallen across the road[1]. The 61-year-old rider was hurt, but the injuries were described as minor. On the A8 motorway towards Munich, one person was slightly injured in an accident due to aquaplaning, according to the Bavarian Police Headquarters North[1].
Stormy Ill Winds in the Czech Republic
The weather disturbance stretching across central Europe also affected the Czech Republic[1]. Czech firefighters were kept busy, responding to nearly 500 incidents. The crews worked tirelessly to remove fallen trees from roads and tracks, as well as pumping rainwater out of basements. Over 70,000 households experienced temporary power loss[1]. CHMU, the state weather service, reported hailstones up to four centimeters in diameter in certain areas[1].
On Thursday, the DWD foresees showers with brief thunderstorms and heavy rain in northwestern Germany[1]. The forecast also includes small hail and gusty winds, with more intense thunderstorms and heavy rain expected later in the afternoon, particularly in the center and east of Germany[1]. Isolated storms with hailstones up to two centimeters in diameter are possible[1].
The turbulent weather in southern Germany led to the unexpected landing of a Ryanair plane destined for Milan from Berlin, with eight passengers and a crew member injured.
As a result of the intense turbulence, the subsequent damage assessment revealed that a small wind tunnel might have caused the destruction of several houses in Ulm, despite the German Weather Service considering the possibility of a tornado sighting.
