easyJet Flight from Corfu to London Makes Emergency Landing After Severe Turbulence Injures Two

An easyJet flight from Corfu to London was forced to make an emergency landing in Italy on Monday after experiencing severe turbulence that resulted in injuries to at least two people.

The Airbus A320, carrying 181 passengers and crew, departed from Corfu Airport at 12:44 pm local time, bound for London Gatwick.

Just 20 minutes into the flight, the aircraft encountered violent turbulence while cruising at 485 mph and 28,000 feet. Two cabin crew members, who were preparing to serve food, were violently thrown against the plane's walls, sustaining injuries severe enough to necessitate an emergency landing at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.

The turbulence hit during a period of severe weather in southern Italy, coinciding with the earlier capsizing of the Bayesian superyacht off Sicily, which was struck by a waterspout.

Upon landing in Rome, passengers were met by easyJet staff and airport personnel, who provided immediate assistance. The injured flight attendants received medical treatment, while a replacement crew and aircraft were arranged to continue the journey to London Gatwick later that afternoon. The affected aircraft remained in Rome for safety checks.

An easyJet spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “The flight on August 19 experienced turbulence that unfortunately injured two cabin crew members. The captain decided to divert to Rome, where the flight attendants received medical assistance. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew are easyJet’s top priority, and our pilots are trained to manage turbulence.”

Italy's air safety agency, ANSV, has launched an investigation to determine whether the turbulence was an unforeseen event known as "clear air turbulence" or if it was visible on the aircraft's weather radar but underestimated by the pilots. The agency also aims to clarify why the flight diverted to Rome rather than closer airports in Bari or Brindisi.

(Source: Daily Mail UK)