BERLIN- Severe turbulence forced Ryanair (FR) flight FR8 to make an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport (FMM) in Germany on Wednesday evening (June 4, 2025), injuring nine people onboard.
The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) with 179 passengers and six crew members when the incident occurred over southern Germany.
Photo: By MarcelX42 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119387148Ryanair Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Germany
Flight FR8, operated by Ryanair (FR), departed Berlin Brandenburg (BER) on June 4 and was heading to Milan Malpensa (MXP) when it encountered violent turbulence around 8:30 p.m. local time.
Severe storms across southern Germany intensified in-flight conditions, prompting the pilot to divert the aircraft to Memmingen Airport (FMM) in Bavaria.
Upon landing, emergency responders assessed all 185 people onboard. According to local police, eight passengers and one crew member were injured during the turbulence. Three individuals required hospital treatment, while six others received outpatient care.
The Boeing 737-800, registered EI-EKN, landed safely without further incident. Authorities grounded the aircraft following the landing, citing safety concerns due to the extreme weather-related damage.
As the aircraft was not permitted to continue its journey, Ryanair arranged ground transportation to Milan, approximately 380 kilometers (236 miles) from Memmingen. Buses were dispatched to assist all passengers in reaching their original destination.
The airline has not issued an official statement beyond confirming the emergency landing and that assistance was provided to those affected.
Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 – Free photo on PixabayWidespread Storm Impact in Southern Germany
The Ryanair incident was part of a larger weather disturbance across southern Germany. In Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, storms damaged several residential buildings. Roofs were torn off row houses in the Donaustetten district, likely due to a small tornado or waterspout, according to initial fire department assessments.
The German Weather Service (DWD) is actively investigating the event and has issued continued storm warnings through Thursday. Hail, strong winds, and localized flooding were expected to persist.
Emergency services responded to multiple weather-related incidents, including fallen trees and flooded basements in various towns across the region.
Similar Incidents
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrUnited Airlines Flight UA29 Injures Five Over the Philippines
United Airlines flight UA29 from San Francisco to Singapore encountered severe turbulence over Butuan City in Mindanao, Philippines, on March 27, 2025, injuring five people onboard. The Federal Aviation Administration reported the incident through its Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing system on April 22, 2025.
The regularly scheduled flight, which typically departs San Francisco at 10:25 PDT and arrives at Singapore Changi Airport at 18:25 SGT, carried 174 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and 4 cockpit crew members. The turbulence caused serious injuries to one flight attendant while three other attendants sustained minor injuries alongside one passenger.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered as N27958, a 9.6-year-old aircraft powered by two GEnx engines. The FAA has initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the specific circumstances and contributing factors.
Photo: Clément AlloingAlaska Airlines Flight AS700 Encounters Turbulence Near Phoenix
Alaska Airlines flight AS700 experienced severe turbulence during its December 26, 2024, journey from Seattle to Phoenix, requiring medical evaluations for multiple flight attendants and one passenger. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 encountered turbulent conditions at approximately 2:30 p.m. MST while approaching Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The flight crew declared a medical emergency before landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor around 3:10 p.m. local time. While no passengers required hospitalization, several crew members underwent transportation to local hospitals for comprehensive medical assessment following the incident.
Photo: Clément AlloingAmerican Airlines Flight AA168 Reports Crew Injuries
American Airlines flight AA168 from Tokyo Haneda to New York JFK experienced severe turbulence on November 15, 2024, injuring two flight attendants during the transcontinental journey.
FlightRadar24 data shows the flight departed Tokyo at 9:01 AM UTC and landed safely at New York JFK at 8:51 PM UTC after approximately 12 hours airborne.
The aircraft, a 7-year-old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner registered as N833AA, carried 279 passengers, eight flight attendants, and four flight crew members. While the exact location of the turbulence remains unclear, flight tracking data suggests the incident may have occurred near the US coast during the approach phase.
Photo: Antonio Pirro’What is Turbulence?
Aircraft turbulence confronts seasoned air travelers as an unsettling phenomenon that jolts planes and causes abrupt altitude changes. This chaotic behavior stems from specific meteorological conditions that create unpredictable air movements throughout the atmosphere.
Flight turbulence manifests as chaotic and unpredictable air swirls that various forces disturb from their calmer state. Observers can witness this phenomenon firsthand by watching placid smoke rising from a source before breaking into increasingly disorganized swirls as it ascends.
Primary Causes of Turbulence
Rough air occurs everywhere from ground level to altitudes far above cruising height, but commercial aviation encounters three primary turbulence sources: mountains, jet streams, and storms.
Mountain-Induced Turbulence
Mountainous terrain creates turbulence when air encounters peaks and ridges, forming waves similar to ocean waves breaking on beaches. Some air flows smoothly over mountain ranges while other air masses become compressed against peaks, forcing upward movement that generates atmospheric waves.
These waves can spread gently through the atmosphere or break apart into chaotic currents that passengers experience as turbulence. The compression and decompression of air masses against mountain barriers create predictable but unavoidable rough air conditions.
Jet Stream Effects
Jet streams generate turbulence through their fast, meandering wind currents positioned near polar regions. Aircraft moving away from jet stream maximum wind speeds encounter changing wind velocities that create shear regions prone to turbulent conditions.
These high-altitude wind rivers create boundary zones where different air masses meet at varying speeds, producing the uneven air movement that translates to cabin turbulence for passengers and crew.
Storm-Generated Turbulence
Recent research demonstrates that rapidly growing storm clouds generate turbulence hundreds or thousands of miles from their actual location. Storm systems push air outward during rapid expansion, creating atmospheric waves that break down into bumpy conditions far from the original weather disturbance.
This phenomenon explains why aircraft can encounter turbulence in seemingly clear skies when distant storm systems are actively developing elsewhere in the region.
Cloud-Based vs Clear Air Turbulence
The majority of turbulence occurs within cloud formations where erratic updrafts and downdrafts create chaotic air movements. Larger cloud formations, particularly cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds, generate moderate to severe turbulence that poses significant challenges for flight operations.
However, clear air turbulence presents the most problematic conditions for aviation. This type occurs in cloudless skies without visual indicators, making detection extremely difficult for pilots and crew members.
Without cloud formations providing visual cues, flight crews struggle to anticipate and navigate clear air turbulence, creating significant challenges for maintaining smooth, comfortable flights. Weather radar cannot detect clear air turbulence since no precipitation or cloud particles exist to reflect radar signals.
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