Passengers tell of terror on board London-bound United Airlines Flight 880 after being hit by turbulence

PASSENGERS have described how they thought they were going to die when their plane unexpectedly hit turbulence on a transatlantic flight.

United Airlines pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport in Ireland. Picture: Getty.

PASSENGERS have described how they thought they were going to die when their plane unexpectedly hit turbulence on a transatlantic flight.

Fourteen passengers and two crew members were taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the dramatic ordeal this morning, according to The Sun.

Another nine people received hospital treatment.

United Airlines Flight 880 travelling from Houston, Texas to London’s Heathrow Airport, was forced to make an emergency landing about 6am local time.

It touched down at Shannon Airport in Ireland where medical staff were summoned to help take those injured to Limerick Hospital.

Passenger Leslie Chi wrote on Facebook that she thought she “might die” during the terrifying ordeal.

UA 880 passenger @conexiant on turbulence: "Dramatic GForce. Pure chaos", says he held armrest w/ shoulders #khou11 pic.twitter.com/D77AzBBhWE

— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredesKHOU) August 31, 2016

Chi, from Nottingham, wrote: “Really felt I might die but fine now, just so tired.”

And Nikki Hartin Boriack said: “Flight diverted to Shannon, major turbulence. The flight attendant I helped said she had never experienced anything like it in 20 years.

“She had a cut head, a few people had broken bones. All in all about 25 people are injured. I know I don’t know these people, but please pray for them.”

The casualties, three of whom were children, had soft tissue injuries, minor head injuries and lacerations, University Hospital Limerick said in a statement.

All but one person were discharged.

The 207 passengers on the flight were due to continue their journey to London on an alternative aircraft, United Airlines said.

Houston-to-London FLT– UA-880 diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland emergency landing 12 injured severe turbulence. pic.twitter.com/BmCU3MxjQN

— FW1SHINE.COM (@FW1SHINE) August 31, 2016

The alarm was raised in the hospital at 5.30am that a flight was being diverted to Shannon with a number of injured people on board.

Management ordered the clinical and paediatric sections of the A&E unit to be cleared in anticipation of patients being brought in by ambulance.

A spokesperson for the company said: “United Airlines is providing care and support to customers and crew of flight UA-880 which experienced severe and unexpected turbulence during a flight from Houston to London Heathrow today.

“The aircraft diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel. Fourteen customers and two flight attendants have been taken to a local hospital.

United #UA880 from IAH-LHR diverted to Shannon due to turbulence. 14 passengers and 2 crew members are in hospital. pic.twitter.com/RMuLdO1TwG

— aviationnews24 (@aviationnews24h) August 31, 2016

“We wish these passengers and crew a quick recovery from their injuries.”

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said it would be investigating the incident.

Air traffic control officers at Shannon Airport were notified at 3.20am local time that the United Airlines aircraft UA880 was making the unscheduled landing.

“Shannon air traffic control facilitated the flight diversion and the aircraft landed safely,” a spokesman for the IAA said.