Nearly a dozen passengers have been hospitalised after ‘freak’ mid-air turbulence that forced a plane travelling from Barbados to Manchester to divert less than three hours after taking off.
The 225 passengers and 13 crew members aboard the chartered plane serving passengers on a P&O cruise were expecting to make it home for Christmas, after they took off from Barbados just before midnight on December 23.
But two-and-a-half hours after Maleth Aero Flight 1975 had taken off from Barbados, the Airbus A300-200 experienced severe ‘clear-air turbulences’ while cruising at 38,000 ft.
The plane diverted to Bermuda, and the passengers were forced to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day away from their families.
The 11 passengers were taken to hospital. Their wellbeing is not currently known.
