Yorkshire couple feared they would 'never see their son again' when flight struck by extreme turbulence

Christopher Packer, 63, and his wife Lynda, 55, were returning from a holiday to Corfu on May 31, 2026, when flight EZY3484 to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool was forced to divert to Milan as a result of adverse conditions.

The couple, from Skipton, were joined by their 15-year-old son Jamie.

However, he was seated several rows away from them and the pair were left feeling “helpless” and worried for his safety.

Christopher and Lynda were “terrified” the plane would crash.

They said passengers and crew were screaming and crying and being thrown around the cabin, which had become almost pitch black.

They also reported an air hostess was thrown into the ceiling and then the floor.

The turbulence lasted between five and 10 minutes, during which there were significant drops in altitude and violent movement, they said.

The flight was delayed by more than 12 hours following the diversion.

One crew member reportedly said they’d never seen turbulence like it before.

Christopher and Lynda now say they’ve been left with ongoing injuries, including spinal injuries, affecting their day-to-day lives.

They have spoken for the first time about the incident and asked expert international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help them access the specialist rehabilitation they require.

Christopher said said: “I’ve flown many times in my life but nothing could have prepared me for what happened that day.

“The turbulence came on so suddenly and when the plane dropped there were crashing noises and people screaming and crying. The cabin had gone pitch black as well so we could barely see anything other than people being thrown around.

“The worst part for me was that Jamie was so far away from us. As a parent, every instinct is to protect your child, but there was nothing I could do to get to him and I had no idea if he was okay or not. I felt totally helpless and my heart was pounding the whole time until I could get to him.

“Even now, I replay those moments in my head. I honestly thought the plane was going to crash. It was absolutely terrifying.”

Philip Banks, the specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the couple, said the event was “nothing short of dramatic” for the couple.

“They said passengers were fearing for their lives, but the fact that they were also separated from Jamie would have undoubtedly made the ordeal even more terrifying”, he added.

“Modern aircraft are equipped with a range of technology that can help detect turbulence and weather systems so measures can be taken to try and steer clear of storms or find the least turbulent path.

“Understandably Christopher and Lynda have a number of concerns about what happened and if more could have been done to prevent their injuries.

“We’re now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and are determined to provide Christopher and Lynda with the answers they deserve.”

The couple, who own a business carrying out fire risk assessments to properties, said passengers were warned before departure that their flight could be delayed due to adverse weather conditions.

Christopher told his legal team that he suffered injuries to his neck, shoulder and lower back during the turbulence.

He has since been assessed by a doctor and complains of ongoing pain and discomfort, as well as anxiety around flying.

Meanwhile, Lynda, who had a pre-existing spinal condition, said the incident worsened her symptoms.

She’s also been affected psychologically.

Lynda added: “I’ve really struggled with pain since the flight and it’s affecting both my day-to-day life and my ability to work.

“I know there’s nothing we can do to change what happened, but we’ve had no answers so we felt we had no option but to instruct lawyers.”