Injuries as major storm forces Ryanair flight to emergency land in Bavaria

Seven people have been injured and two taken to the hospital after a Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan was forced to make an emergency landing in Bavaria.

Berlin-Milan flight forced to emergency land in Memmingen

Severe stormy weather across southern Germany forced a Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan to make an emergency landing in Bavaria on Wednesday evening. The plane landed in Memmingen, 100 kilometres to the west of Munich.

According to German police, seven passengers were injured during heavy turbulence, including a cabin crew member, one woman who sustained a head injury and a two-year-old child with bruising. Once the plane made its emergency landing, two of the 185 passengers onboard were taken to hospital for treatment.

Employees at the airport in Memmingen initially had trouble contacting the airline. The Southern Bavaria Aviation Authority then refused to permit an onward flight, and Ryanair eventually organised bus services for passengers to continue their journey.

Passengers feared plane would break apart

Speaking to tabloid newspaper Bild, a passenger who had been on board said, “Never before have I been so scared, but in that moment I thought the plane was going to break apart”. 

According to the paper, passengers were not given regular updates during the turbulence, and some hadn’t been wearing their seatbelts. Photos published in the paper showed loose ceiling panels and worried passengers.