Terrified passengers clung onto their seats when severe turbulence injured four passengers and two cabin crew on a flight from Turkey to Taiwan.


The Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300 departed from the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul at 2:19 am local time on September 5.

But the aircraft, with 17 crew members and 214 passengers onboard, was rocked by turbulence around two hours before landing at the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.

Footage shows the chaotic scene inside the cabin. Meals were scattered across the floor and food was splattered on the faces of some passengers.

Officials said two crew members and four passengers were injured, with two of them taken to the hospital.

A Turkish Airlines spokesman said: 'Our passengers and crew on flight TK24 from Istanbul to Taipei experienced a period of unexpected turbulence.

'Unfortunately, a small number of passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries. We are relieved that the aircraft landed safely and that medical assistance was provided promptly.

'We understand that this was a distressing experience for our passengers, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. The safety and comfort of our passengers is our top priority.'

The aircraft, registered TC-JJE, remained on the ground for about four hours before departing as scheduled for its return flight.

Turbulence is yet to cause a plane to crash. However, passengers are often injured - or even killed - by the violent force of the plane being shaken.

One passenger died and 20 were taken into intensive care with severe injuries when turbulence struck a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight from London on May 21.

Flight SQ321 suddenly plunged some 6,000ft before making an emergency landing shortly before 4 pm local time at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Police have confirmed that British pensioner Geoffrey Ralph Kitchen, 73, was killed during turbulence onboard.