Moments of pure terror on board an Air Europa flight, hit by a very strong storm turbulence which caused damage to the aircraft and also several injuries. The episode occurred during the morning of today, Monday 1 July, and ended with an emergency landing in Brazil.
Panic in flight
According to reports in the foreign press, the UX045 carrier Air Europa, a Spanish airline, left Madrid for Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Unfortunately, during the journey, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner encountered turbulence, which turned the internal environment of the carrier upside down and injured as many as 30 of the 325 passengers on board. Having understood the gravity of the situation, the pilot requested and obtained to carry out a emergency landing.
At around 2:32 in the afternoon, the plane fortunately touched down at the Governador Aluízio Alves International Airport in Natal, Brazil. Rescue operations were immediately activated there, reaching the aircraft to provide assistance to the wounded. Many people suffered injuries, more or less serious, after being thrown into the air by the turbulence. There were fractures to the spine and strong chest pains with suspected fractures to the ribs. Apparently 10 passengers were rushed to the emergency room of the Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgerl hospital.
From the videos recorded by passengers and then published on social media it is possible to see what the conditions of the plane after turbulence. Indeed, torn ceiling panels, a dangling oxygen mask and heavily damaged seats can be seen. For the passengers who remained unharmed, the airline has arranged a new flight that will take them to Montevideo.
The testimonies
A Venezuelan passenger told The Observer that shortly before the turbulence, the captain had warned both passengers and crew, recommending them to fasten their seat belts. “Shortly after that there was a very, very light turbulence. Then, all of a sudden, the plane started to fall and we all rose up.“, he has declared. “Those who didn’t have seatbelts they flew and some remained hooked to the ceiling. It lasted about 3 seconds.”he added.
“The feeling was terrorthe
feeling like you’re falling and it’s never ending. And you’re aware that you’re falling at an incalculable speed“, another passenger said. “You feel that everything is ending in that moment, and that you are dead.”
