Passengers and crew were thrown around the cabin on a flight from Singapore to London Heathrow (Picture: Getty Images)
Multiple people were seriously injured after terrifying turbulence hit a packed British Airways flight at 30,000ft.
Five crew members were hurt and passengers screamed as the Boeing 777-300ER heading for London Heathrow was battered in stormy skies four hours after taking off from Singapore.
One of the in-flight staff needed surgery and one suffered concussion and a dislocated ankle, while another required an MRI scan on a severely bruised hip.
Three passengers were also seriously injured as people, including dozens of Brits, were thrown around the cabin in the early hours of Friday.
The turbulence that struck the aircraft while over the Bay of Bengal was so severe and sustained that the pilot was eventually forced to abort flight BA12.
A source told The Sun that the pilot ‘had no option but to try and turn the plane around’.
They said that the airline has ‘not experienced anything like this in the last five years’.
The pilot was forced to abort flight BA12 and return to Singapore (Picture: Flightradar24)
The severity of the turbulence was described as ‘obscene’ (Picture: PA)
The source said: ‘It’s an area where winds often make flying uncomfortable, but the severity of this turbulence was obscene.
‘From nowhere, the plane was shaking as it suddenly dropped five feet and rose again in uncomfortable jerked motions.
‘There were screams from the passengers and great upset spread through the cabins.
‘The “fasten seat belt” signs were on but the heroic crew were carrying out essential duties when they were thrown around the cabin.’
After enduring the petrifying turbulence, the plane touched back down in Singapore at around 3am.
Passengers returned to Singapore and were re-booked onto later flights (Picture: Getty Images)
Shocked passengers were offered hotel accommodation and re-booked onto later flights.
A British Airways spokesperson told The Sun: ‘Safety is always our priority and we’re looking after our crew after one of our flights experienced a rare episode of severe turbulence.
‘Our highly trained team on board reassured customers and the aircraft returned to Singapore as a precaution.
‘We’ve apologised to customers for the delay to their flight and provided them with hotel accommodation and information on their consumer rights.
‘We’re re-booking customers onto the next available flights with us and other airlines.’
Back in April, passengers onboard a flight from Angola to Portugal were covered in food and wine after turbulence caused carnage in the cabin.
Severe turbulence hit a flight from Angola to Lisbon, Portugal in April this year (Picture: CEN)
Food, napkins, cutlery and passengers’ belongings were scattered all over the aisle after it was jolted around.
Planes are reportedly experiencing more turbulence than in previous decades, according to new research.
Researchers from the University of Reading said this was predicted to increase with climate change but that their study provides strong evidence it is happening already.
Warmer air from CO2 emissions is increasing wind shear in the jet streams – when the wind suddenly changes speed or direction in a small area.
Scientists said clear-air turbulence is already costing airlines hundreds of millions a year but more investment is needed to forecast and detect the invisible phenomenon.
The pilot was forced to abort the flight to London Heathrow.