Passengers have been taken to hospital after "freak turbulence" hit a flight bound for Manchester Airport.
It is being reported 11 people on the Airbus A300-200 were hurt when the Manchester-bound flight suffered severe turbulence. The plane, which was travelling from Barbados on Christmas Eve, was forced to make an emergency landing at LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda.
The flight was carrying 225 passengers and 13 crew members at the time, the Mirror reports. It was met with emergency services on the runway. Bermuda's acting Minister of National Security said an investigation into the circumstances around the incident will now be carried out.
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The emergency diversion meant passengers – who were due back to the UK on Sunday – had to spend Christmas Day, and are due to spend much of Boxing Day, in Bermuda while the plane undergoes legislative aircraft checks. The aircraft is scheduled to depart at 4pm today, with an arrival in the early hours of tomorrow.
The plane originally took off an hour late from Barbados and was expected to arrive at Manchester shortly before 6am on December 24. Two-and-a-half hours into the flight, while cruising at 38,000 feet, the P&O Caribbean cruise charter flight experienced severe “clear-air turbulence”
A statement from Bermuda's Ministry of Security said: "At approximately 12.50am, Maleth Aero Flight 1975, an Airbus A300-200, en route from Barbados to Manchester experienced severe turbulence, necessitating an emergency landing at LF Wade International Airport. The aircraft executed a controlled landing on the island.
"Emergency medical technicians from the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service greeted the aircraft to provide initial assessments of the passengers and pre-hospital care. The response included nine BFRS vehicles, two King Edward VII Memorial Hospital ambulances and 20 BFRS personnel.”
Each of the 11 passengers only suffered minor injuries, with nine of them having been discharged from hospital already. According to the Royal Gazette, the aircraft will remain on the ground while an investigation is carried out to see whether the turbulence has damaged the plane itself.
Owen Darrell, the acting Minister of National Security, said: “We are aware of the situation and are diligently working to ensure the wellbeing of all involved. We are extremely grateful for the quick response of all our emergency services personnel who ensured the safety of the passengers and crew.”
Mr Darrell added that officials are providing support to passengers, crew and airline officials as authorities carry out an investigation into the circumstances around the incident.
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