Mother & Toddler Injured In Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX Turbulence Incident
A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8 narrowbody aircraft en route to Milan, Italy, encountered severe turbulence on June 4, 2025, the airline confirmed to Simple Flying. As a result, at least nine passengers, including a mother with a toddler, were injured.
Ryanair
- IATA/ICAO Code
- FR/RYR
- Airline Type
- Low-Cost Carrier
- Year Founded
- 1985
In response to the severe turbulence and injured passengers, the flight crew decided to divert the 737 MAX and make an emergency landing. Initially, they planned to divert to Munich, but due to unfavorable weather conditions, the aircraft was rerouted to Memmingen, Germany.
What Happened Onboard During The Turbulence
Photo: Jack Darling Photo | Shutterstock
On June 4, 2025, the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as EI-EKN, was operating a scheduled flight FR8 between Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) when the narrowbody aircraft suddenly encountered severe turbulence. At the time, the 737 MAX was flying through German airspace. As a result, the flight crew made an emergency landing at Memmingen Airport (FMM), as weather conditions in Munich were unfavorable.
According to The Aviation Herald, a mother and her toddler had just exited the lavatory when the turbulence struck, resulting in injuries to both. The seat belt signs had not been turned on continuously, so several passengers were not strapped in at the time. A total of nine passengers experienced injuries. Three passengers were taken to hospitals, while others received treatment by paramedics at the airport.
The likely cause of the incident was supercell thunderstorms over the Bavaria region in Germany, according to the report. It is worth noting that supercell thunderstorms are intense and long-lasting thunderstorms characterized by a rotating updraft, also known as a mesocyclone. They are known for producing severe weather, including large hail, strong winds, and sometimes tornadoes. In a comment to Simple Flying, a Ryanair spokesperson said:
"FR8 from Berlin to Milan on 4th June diverted to Memmingen after experiencing some air turbulence. The captain called ahead for medical assistance and the aircraft landed normally. To get passengers to their final destination as quickly as possible, we arranged for alternative transport from Memmingen to Milan that night, as well as a replacement flight this morning.”
An Increase In Turbulence-Related Incidents
Photo: kamilpetran | Shutterstock
Our skies are becoming bumpier, and there is a growing body of studies revealing that the increase in clear-air turbulence is related to the climate crisis. Indeed, severe turbulence incidents are not going away and are likely to increase. As a hazard to civil aviation, turbulence is responsible for numerous injuries onboard each year and is one of the primary causes why people experience fear of flying.
According to a 2024 study, estimates indicate that there are over 63,000 encounters with moderate-or-greater turbulence and 5,000 encounters with severe-or-greater turbulence annually. Another study published by Advancing Earth and Space Sciences also noted an increasing trend in clear-air turbulence over East Asia, likely attributed to the effects of anthropogenic forcing. Positive trends in clear-air turbulence frequency are projected to rise across various global warming scenarios in East Asia at typical aircraft cruising altitudes.
Indeed, around the same time the study was released, a severe turbulence incident occurred on a 
Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore, when a Boeing 777-300ER dropped 178 feet in five seconds, resulting in multiple injuries and one fatality due to a heart attack. In an update on May 27, 2025, the Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) said that its investigation into the Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 turbulence event is ongoing.
Singaporean investigators have said that parts of the Boeing 777-300ER's weather radar have been sent to the US.
Other Turbulence-Related Incidents
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
In recent years, there have been numerous serious turbulence-related incidents. For example, severe turbulence on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 flight between Seattle and Phoenix on December 26, 2024, reportedly hospitalized four crew members and injured one passenger.
The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, registered as N958AK, was operating a two-hour flight AS 700 between Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) when the aircraft was struck by severe turbulence.
