The terrifying moment passengers and crew were thrown around the cabin as the jet was hit by violent turbulence and plunged hundreds of feet over China.
The Air China flight was en route from Shanghai to Beijing when it ran into turbulence
Horrifying video captures the moment passengers and crew were thrown from their seats as their flight was hit by violent turbulence.
Air China Flight CA1524 was en route from Shanghai to Beijing on Monday when violent gusts slammed the plane at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
At least one passenger and one crew member were reportedly injured after the plane plunged hundreds of feet and was thrown into the air.
Clear Air Turbulence (CAT), as the aircraft is said to have encountered, is sudden and severe turbulence that occurs without any visible signs such as clouds and takes pilots by surprise.
Passengers described the terrifying experience of being thrown from their seats, with one claiming the ceiling cracked and an emergency exit sign fell to the floor amid the chaos.
Air China flight CA1524 was traveling from Shanghai to Beijing on Monday when the plane crashed
The moment people were thrown from their seats by the violent commotion was captured on video
‘The first half of the flight was quite smooth. However, in the last 30 to 40 minutes, when people were walking back to the restroom, there was a sudden drop that startled everyone,” passenger Jing Lida said on Weibo.
‘I saw a woman in her 40s and a flight attendant covering the woman with her body both thrown onto the roof,’ Jing, who works as an associate professor at the University of Geosciences of China, told the Global Times.
‘The ceiling cracked and the exit sign fell to the floor at my feet. He said there were some sprains and superficial injuries.
“I would like to pay my respects to the Air China flight attendants. Despite their own fear, they jump in to protect passengers who don’t fasten their seatbelts and hold them tight. They then proceed to provide aid to the injured in a professional and calm manner,’ Jing added.
As the turbulence first hit, piercing screams rang out through the cabin, as seen on video taken by a passenger.
Travelers grabbed the seats in front of them as they surged upward, with one almost hitting the ceiling.
As the turbulence first hit, piercing screams rang out through the cabin, video taken by a passenger shows
Passengers grabbed the seats in front of them as they leaned upwards, one almost hitting the ceiling.
Passengers’ belongings, travel pillows, books were scattered around the cabin
Passengers were pushed from their seats and their belongings including travel pillows and books were scattered around the cabin.
The dramatic moment lasted less than a second, before panicked passengers rushed from their seats and quickly put on their seat belts.
A passenger and a flight attendant were taken to a Beijing hospital after the flight landed safely at 5:18 a.m. local time, Air China said. Their condition is not known.