Passengers talk of 'terrifying moments' on Ryanair Malta-Treviso flight

The aircraft hit strong turbulence during flight, injuring six people, and pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Bologna's Marconi airport.

The incident happened at 8:20pm yesterday evening, when the flight that departed from Malta was reportedly caught up in severe turbulence while descending over the Tyrrhenian Sea, There were 170 people on board the flight, 40 of whom were Maltese.

According to the Bologna airport authorities, the plane struck two air-pockets causing the aircraft to buckle. 

Passengers who spoke to Italian media, explained how 40 minutes into the flight, the plane violently buckled twice at a time when stewards were walking through the aisle distributing food and drinks to passengers.

"The trolley just lifted and hit the roof, while everything flew onto seated passengers. Those who were were not tied into their seat belts hurt themselves as they were thrown off their seat, while those who remained seated hurt when the overhead compartments opened and baggage fell onto them," a passenger told the Tribuna di Treviso newspaper.

Another passenger commented on Venice daily 'Il Gazzettino' who said that she felt lucky she wasn't tall, as she would have bumped her head with the over head compartment.

"They were 20 terrifying seconds," she wrote.

Meanwhile, the pilots landed the plane at Bologna's Marconi airport, where six passengers were treated for shock and slight injuries. A steward was referred to hospital, while three passengers refused to continue with their trip and stayed at the airport.

All passengers were later flown out of Bologna to Treviso on another aircraft.