Strong turbulence struck the flight which was travelling from Luanda, Angola, to Portugal on Thursday, March 23. While the plane managed to land safely at its destination, the cabin was littered with food and drink, leaving at least 10 passengers injured during the carnage which was captured on video.
The TAAG airlines flight was struck by “adverse atmospheric conditions” which caused the turbulence, according to a spokesperson.
Passengers were shocked by the disruption mid-flight while the plane was travelling over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, en route to Lisbon, Portugal.
Video footage which was taken on board revealed the messy aftermath of the weather event which left eight people in need of medical assistance.
Meal trays, plastic cutlery and litter had filled the aisles of the cabin, with passengers unable to flee the carnage.
READ MORE: Best British Airways deals in March 2023: £31 flights to Europe
Food and drink were spread across laps, the central aisle of the aircraft, between the overhead store, and even on the ceiling. Half-eaten meals, beer cans and water bottles were just some of the items that had been flung across the space.
While the pilot was able to steer the flight to safety, there was some lasting damage done to the plane itself.
Perforated and cracked ceiling tiles can be seen in the background of one video shared from the flight, which also showed concerned passengers tightly strapped under their seat belts.
The aftermath of the turbulence left the plane – and its crew in disarray, forcing emergency services to intervene once the plane landed.
The Daily Mail reported that eight passengers required medical assistance, with a doctor on board assisting one of the injured.
A further two cabin crew were also caught up in the chaos which occurred during the Hi Fly TAAG flight.
In a statement released by the airline, they revealed that an ambulance and medical team were sent to Lisbon Airport, where the flight landed at 8:37pm – seven hours and 18 minutes after take-off.
While the flight was not extended or cut short by the incident, the unnerving experience left some people on board in a state of shock.
READ MORE: Brits urged to swap Spain holidays for ‘great-value’ spot
Portuguese media reported that many passengers seemed anxious after landing in the country’s capital city.
The ongoings of the TAAG flight from Luanda appeared to be an isolated incident though the “adverse” weather did cause further disruption.
Heavy rain in the Angolan city meant that a later flight to Lisbon scheduled for the same day was postponed due to a “slippery runway”, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite the turbulence being down to the weather conditions, the airline had previously been questioned over safety concerns and was banned from flying into European airspace back in 2007. The Europen Union-imposed ban was lifted in 2019, allowing TAAG to operate normally.
Express.co.uk has contacted TAAG for comment
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Travel News Click Here
