Jetstar flight is forced to turn around as ‘all hell breaks loose’ on-board with passengers saying their goodbyes to loved ones

Jetstar flight is forced to turn around as ‘all hell breaks loose’ on-board with passengers saying their goodbyes to loved ones

Passengers have been left shaken as a Jetstar flight was forced to turn around after getting struck with ‘wild’ turbulence. 

The aborted flight from Auckland to Queenstown endured turbulence that was so severe, passengers were thrown from their seats. 

New Zealand’s South Island was buffeted by wind gusts of up to 150km/h throughout Monday evening.

An 18-year-old passenger on-board the flight told how ‘all hell broke loose’ as the plane descended through the winds.

Jetstar passenger Dylan Steele said the wing of the plane was ‘flapping like a bloody feather’ in the strong winds

‘Everyone was just screaming and throwing up on the flight,’ Dylan Steele told the New Zealand Herald.

‘I was next to the wing, so I was looking out the window and all I saw was the wing flapping like a bloody feather.

‘It was just wild, I have never experienced turbulence that bad in my life. It felt like a rollercoaster ride.’

Mr Steele revealed that the turbulence got so bad, he started saying his goodbyes to loved ones.

‘All I could hear was the sounds of people being sick and that was with headphones on.’

‘Everyone was just pretty shaken up and shocked,’ he added.

Winds forced the flight to turn around as it began its descent.

Winds forced the flight to turn around as it began its descent.

Jetstar has issued an apology to affected customers, with flights across several airlines also impacted by the winds.

‘Aircraft are designed to withstand turbulence far more severe than is ever encountered and pilots and crew are well practised and trained to manage turbulence,’ an airline spokesperson said.

‘We sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption to their travel plans due to strong winds affecting Queenstown.

‘Our teams are working to get customers to their destination as quickly as possible, however safety is our first priority.’

Flights are generally delayed from taking off or landing if winds reach 65 km/h, however some passenger jets have been seen landing in winds of 90km/h.

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