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A Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan encountered severe turbulence on Wednesday (June 4), forcing an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport in southern Germany. The incident resulted in injuries to nine people, including eight passengers and one crew member. Three of the injured were taken to the hospital for further treatment, while the others received outpatient care.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, hit the turbulence around 8:30 p.m. local time. The pilot decided to divert to Memmingen Airport due to the intense conditions caused by severe storms across southern Germany. According to a passenger, the turbulence was so violent that it felt as though "the plane was going to break apart or roll over."
Upon landing, emergency responders assessed all 185 people onboard. The aircraft was grounded due to safety concerns stemming from the weather-related damage. Ryanair arranged for buses to transport passengers to their original destination in Milan, approximately 236 miles away.
The German Weather Service is investigating the storm system that caused the turbulence, which also resulted in significant damage in the region. In Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, strong winds tore roofs off several homes, likely due to a small tornado or waterspout. Emergency services responded to numerous weather-related incidents, including fallen trees and flooded basements.