A flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong turned into a nightmare when the plane plunged twice without warning, injuring 10 people including two Australians.
The terrifying incident occurred during breakfast service on Cathay Pacific flight CX156 when the aircraft was struck by severe turbulence, sending food, phones and shoes flying through the cabin.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Cathay Pacific flight plunges twice in severe turbulence.
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Passenger Nick Stevenson said the eight-and-a-half-hour journey had been smooth sailing up until the plane suddenly dropped.
“Up until then, it was a pretty perfect flight,” the Cairns local said.
“Essentially, they just turned on the lights and started the breakfast service. And then out of nowhere, the plane just suddenly dropped.”
“Anyone that didn’t have their belt on just got pretty well launched into the roof.”
Stevenson said the cabin crew serving breakfast were the most affected, with service carts and their contents scattered throughout the cabin.
Eight people were transported to hospital in Hong Kong following the turbulence-hit flight. Credit: 7NEWSFood containers, drinks and loose items were thrown across the cabin during the violent mid-air incident. Credit: Fahad Naim/X
“There was a lot of screaming. You definitely didn’t think it was going to end well, that’s for sure,” he said.
The plane dropped a second time in quick succession, leaving passengers fearing for their lives, with Stevenson saying there “was a point there” he thought the Airbus A350-900 could be going down.
“A big plane like that’s just not supposed to drop out the sky like the way it did,” he said.
Photos and videos shared online after the incident showed food, coffee, shoes, napkins and loose items scattered across the cabin floor.
Passenger Nick Stevenson described the moment the plane plunged mid-air. Credit: 7NEWSEmergency crews and ambulances awaited the Cathay Pacific plane’s arrival in Hong Kong. Credit: Fahad Naim/X
Six cabin crew and four passengers were injured in the incident.
The aircraft landed safely at Hong Kong International Airport about 6.45am local time, with firefighters, ambulance crews and emergency personnel on standby before arrival.
“Medical personnel boarded the aircraft to assess the conditions of a small number of passengers and crew who reported feeling unwell, and they were provided with the utmost level of care,” Cathay Pacific confirmed.
Eight of those people were taken to hospital, though their injuries are not believed to be serious.
Four doctors who were on board provided assistance to the injured.
It’s believed the flight hit a storm cell that the pilot didn’t see because it was too dark.
Cathay Pacific said it was investigating the incident and is continuing to assist affected passengers and crew.
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