Distress in the air: Turbulence on flights can cause pain and panic

Turbulence in the air while flying is an experience most of us have had, some much worse than others.

“From vomiting, being thrown out of their seat, getting splattered by loose food and drink, or simply suffering the distress of extreme turbulence, some passengers have had truly horrifying experiences,” writes the Daily Mail in an article that compiles some truly stress-filled and occasionally horrifying videos of such real-life experiences from recent years.

One such example of extreme turbulence was on a flight from Angola to Portugal earlier this year that left 10 people injured, with food and drink splattered throughout the plane.  

Another terrifying moment captured on video is from an Air China flight from Shanghai to Beijing, in which passengers and crew members were thrown from their seats after a violent burst of turbulence.  

The article points out that turbulence is caused by a change in the distribution of air currents and the pressure around the plane, and that it rarely poses a major risk to the plane’s survival. But as the videos make clear, it can be a horrifying and terror-filled experience for the passengers and crew who experience it first-hand.