MID-AIR PANIC
Two injured after easyJet flight hit by turbulence forcing emergency landing
Crew grounded the plane so the pair could get medical attention
AT LEAST two people have been injured on an easyJet flight from Corfu to London as the jet was struck by strong turbulence.
Pilots were forced to make an emergency landing in Rome after the pair were thrown against the walls of the plane.
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The Airbus A320 aircraft left Corfu Airport in Greece just before 1pm local time and headed for Gatwick.
Only 20 minutes later the flight was hammered by turbulence as it travelled at almost 800 kilometres per hour.
The two cabin crew members were injured as they were about to serve food onboard when the chaos hit.
They were hurled against the walls of the plane, with injuries severe enough that pilots decided to ground the jet.
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The crew made an emergency landing at Fiumicino airport in Rome where the two flight attendants were given medical attention.
An easyJet spokeswoman said: "The flight on August 19 experienced turbulence which unfortunately injured two cabin crew members.
"As a result, the captain decided to divert the flight to Rome, where the flight attendants received medical assistance.
"The safety and well-being of our customers and crew are easyJet's top priority, and our pilots are trained to manage turbulence."
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Some 181 people were onboard the plane.
Italian air safety agency ANSV has launched an investigation into the incident.
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A statement read: "Given the type and severity of the injuries reported, we have initiated a safety investigation, classifying the event as an 'accident'".
But they said investigators will be looking into whether the turbulence was unexpected or seen and underestimated by pilots.
The agency added that officials may seek to establish why the crew grounded in Rome and not in the closer airports of Bari or Brindisi.
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