Passengers travelling from Spain to Italy were screaming in fear as their Wizz Air flight was hit with severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing
Passengers on a flight returning from Spain were left screaming in fear as their plane was thrown around in terrifying turbulence, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.
The Wizz Air flight was travelling from Alicante, Spain, to Fiumicino Airport, Rome, this week when it encountered severe turbulence. In a shocking video posted to social media, petrified passengers could be heard shrieking on the Airbus A321 as it battled the bumpy conditions.
The seatbelt signs were on while the majority of the cabin lights were turned off, only adding to the fearful moment for travellers on board. In the video shared on TikTok, the user added the caption, “Attimi di terrore sul volo”, translating to “Moments of terror on the flight.”
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Passengers in the video can be heard shouting, “Oh God”, and “No, no, no!” while others remained quiet with heavy breaths. Outside through the windows, the plane’s red lights can be seen amid the grey and dark sky.
Italy has faced extreme weather this summer, and Rome was given a severe thunderstorm warning. The bad weather is what impacted the Wizz Air flight, which attempted to land at Fiumicino, the country’s busiest airport.
After several attempts, the pilot aborted the plan and was redirected to Bologna, over 250 miles away, to make a safe landing. The flight from Alicante to Rome typically takes under two hours, but due to delays and severe turbulence, it landed in Bologna at 3:53am – almost three hours after it was due to arrive in Rome.
Wizz Air said: “Wizz Air flight W4 6038 from Alicante to Rome Fiumicino on August 20 was diverted to Bologna Airport after it was unable to land safely due to adverse weather conditions at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
“The aircraft landed safely and without incident in Bologna at 3:57 a.m. local time. Passengers were provided with ground transportation from Bologna to Rome.”
The airline added that passengers who “had independently arranged ground transportation” would be entitled to a refund. Wizz Air also said: “Weather conditions are beyond the airline’s control, and safety remains Wizz Air’s top priority.”
They also added that aborting a landing is a “standard procedure in the event that conditions are not ideal for a safe landing”. The airline thanked the pilots and cabin crew for “ensuring everyone’s safety during the turbulence and for making the right decision to divert the flight to Bologna.”