Thursday, August 22, 2024 A routine flight from Corfu to London turned into a terrifying ordeal when an easyJet Airbus A320 was struck by severe turbulence, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing in Italy. The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in injuries to at least two passengers and caused significant distress among those on board. The British carrier’s Airbus A320 took off from Corfu Airport in Greece at 12:44 PM local time.
The aircraft, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was en route to London Gatwick Airport. The flight, identified as EZY1234, had been expected to follow its regular path across Europe, cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet. However, just 20 minutes into the journey, the flight encountered a patch of extremely rough air that would alter the course of the day for everyone on board.
As the Airbus A320 reached a speed of 485 mph, it was suddenly hit by what has been described as brutal turbulence. Passengers reported feeling the aircraft shake violently, with the turbulence lasting several intense moments. The sudden and severe nature of the turbulence left passengers and crew members alarmed, with some being thrown from their seats, resulting in injuries.
Turbulence is a common occurrence in air travel, often causing discomfort but rarely leading to severe incidents. However, the turbulence encountered by the easyJet flight was far more intense than usual. Passengers described the aircraft lurching and dropping suddenly, causing pani.