Ryanair Flight Shaken by Sudden Turbulence
Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan on June 4 were treated to a terrifying reminder of why weather is an airline’s worst nightmare. With the aircraft nearing southern Germany, a massive thunderstorm unleashed a bout of violent turbulence that nobody on board will forget any time soon. The clock showed just past 8:30 p.m. when the Boeing was tossed around the sky, sending some passengers crashing against the ceiling as the plane rocked in a way some described as "like a roller coaster, but scarier."
There were 179 passengers and six crew members on board, all expecting an ordinary evening flight—not the chaos that unfolded above Bavaria. When the turbulence hit, oxygen masks reportedly dropped and several passengers sustained back and head injuries. In total, eight travellers and one crew member were hurt. Three of those injured didn’t get to leave the airport—paramedics whisked them to local hospitals for more treatment, while the rest were checked over by emergency services right at Memmingen Airport’s tarmac.
Thunderstorms Batter Southern Germany
The mayhem didn’t stop at the runway. That same storm system battered southern Germany, leaving a trail of chaos and property damage. In Ulm and the nearby town of Donaustetten, roofs tore away in the wind—some witnesses even said it looked like a tornado touched down, though authorities are still piecing together the puzzle of what exactly happened.
The turbulence wasn’t just a freak event, either. The German Weather Service had been warning of more rough weather, and sure enough, the forecast called for giant hailstones, winds strong enough to knock down trees, and yet more rain. Emergency crews across the region scrambled to deal with flooding and debris even as investigations into the exact causes continued.
As for the stranded travelers hoping to get to Milan, Ryanair scrambled to help. With the jet grounded, buses were brought in to carry everyone south across the Alps—around a five-hour trip—while the shaken passengers swapped stories about seatbelts, torn suitcases, and unexpected heroics from the airline crew.
Incidents like these bring home just how quickly calm skies can turn wild, and how even the world’s busiest airlines are at the mercy of nature’s mood swings. Investigations are now underway into both the onboard injuries and the broader havoc the storm left behind, as southern Germany braces itself for whatever the next bout of extreme weather might bring.
Jun, 6 2025