A Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan made an emergency landing in southern Germany on Wednesday, June 4, after encountering severe turbulence that injured nine people, including a two-year-old child and one crew member.
The aircraft, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, encountered intense turbulence around 8:25 p.m. local time while flying over the Allgäu region in Bavaria. The violent weather conditions forced the pilot to divert to Memmingen Airport, approximately 70 miles west of Munich.
Eight passengers and one crew member sustained injuries during the turbulence. Among those hurt were a woman who suffered a head laceration, her two-year-old child who sustained bruises, and a 59-year-old woman who complained of back pain. Three of the injured passengers required hospitalization in Memmingen, while the remaining injured individuals received outpatient treatment at the airport.
German police confirmed that all passengers were checked for injuries by emergency services as a precautionary measure. The flight captain had requested medical assistance ahead of landing, and the aircraft touched down safely at the Bavarian airport.
The severe weather that caused the turbulence was part of a broader storm system affecting southern Germany. Weather experts described the phenomenon as a “supercell” – a dangerous rotating thunderstorm that can span up to 30 miles across with tornado-like winds inside. The German Weather Service had issued severe storm warnings for the region, threatening hail and storm gusts.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed an abrupt course change toward Memmingen during the journey. The turbulence was so severe that one passenger told German newspaper Bild: “I’ve never been scared before – but at that moment, I thought the plane was going to break apart or roll over!”
Passengers described chaotic scenes aboard the aircraft, with several travelers reportedly out of their seats when the plane was struck by the extreme turbulence. One passenger claimed a mother and her baby were in the restroom when the aircraft was violently shaken by the weather conditions.
Following the emergency landing, passengers were kept on the plane for several hours, leaving many travelers frustrated and agitated. The Southern Bavaria Aviation Authority did not immediately approve a replacement flight, forcing Ryanair to arrange alternative transportation for the stranded passengers.
The airline organized bus transport to complete the journey to Milan, which is approximately 235 miles south of Memmingen. The bus journey was necessary because aviation authorities had banned further takeoffs from the airport due to the continuing severe weather conditions.
Ryanair also arranged a replacement flight for Thursday morning, June 5, to accommodate passengers who needed to reach their destination. The airline issued a statement acknowledging the incident and apologizing to affected travelers for the disruption to their journey.
The storm system that caused the flight’s emergency landing also wreaked havoc elsewhere in southern Germany. In nearby Ulm, a tornado tore roofs off houses across multiple streets in the Donaustetten district, rendering several row houses uninhabitable. Fire officials suspected a small tornado or waterspout caused the extensive damage, though no injuries were reported from the ground incidents.
Emergency services throughout Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg responded to dozens of storm-related calls, with damage mostly limited to fallen trees and flooded basements.
Flight safety experts emphasize the importance of passengers remaining seated with seat belts fastened when the seat belt sign is illuminated. The Association of Flight Attendants has previously stressed that turbulence can cause serious injuries to passengers and crew members who are not properly secured during unexpected weather encounters.
The flight, designated as FR8, had departed from Brandenburg Airport in Berlin and was scheduled to arrive at Malpensa Airport in Milan. The aircraft’s condition following the turbulence encounter has not been disclosed, and both German police and Ryanair officials are expected to provide additional statements regarding the investigation into the incident.