Update: Passengers in Shannon emergency landing describe 'pure chaos' after plane 'just dropped'

Update 5.05pm: An air-stewardess has been admitted to University Hospital Limerick having sustained injuries on board a United Airlines flight which plummeted hundreds of feet in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean.

Update: Passengers in Shannon emergency landing describe 'pure chaos' after plane 'just dropped'

Update 5.05pm: An air-stewardess has been admitted to University Hospital Limerick having sustained injuries on board a United Airlines flight which plummeted hundreds of feet in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean.

Eight adults and three children - including a two-year old girl, and a teenage girl and boy - were treated in hospital for head injuries, lacerations, and soft tissue damage.

A ninth adult, a United Airlines stewardess was admitted to hospital with a fractured wrist. Doctors decided to admit the woman to monitor her, following her ordeal.

"They obviously decided it was serious enough to admit her and keep her in," a source said.

The other injured passengers were discharged and transported from the hospital back to Shannon Airport to make another flight to their final destination in London.

Update 12.30pm: Passengers on a plane sustained head injuries, cuts and bruises, when the aircraft suddenly dropped in mid-air as it travelled over the Atlantic Ocean this morning.

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

United Airlines UA880, a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, struck a suspected air pocket, which passengers reported caused the plane to "just drop".

Passengers took to social media to describe the incident with one calling the scenes pure chaos and another saying she thought she might die.

The airline stated the plane hit "severe and unexpected turbulence".

A press release by the communications department at University Hospital Limerick stated: "Staff at UHL were notified at approximately 5.30am of an incident aboard a transatlantic flight and that a medical diversion was being made to Shannon Airport with a possible 23 casualties."

"The Clinical Decision Unit and paediatric area within the ED (Emergency Department) were cleared in anticipation of patients being brought from the airport."

"When the aircraft landed, initial assessment was carried out by the National Ambulance Service and airport first responders. A total of 12 people were transported to hospital, nine adults and three children."

"Two of the 12 were crew members."

"The casualties in the main presented with soft tissue injuries, minor head injuries and lacerations. As of 10.30am on Wednesday, one patient was still being assessed and the remaining 11 were discharged."

"Hospital staff are working with the airline to transport the passengers back to Shannon Airport to continue their onward journey to London," the statement added.

Earlier a United Airlines statement said that 14 passengers and two crew members were injured and taken to hospital.

There were 207 passengers, a three-member cockpit crew, and 10 flight attendants on board, according to the airline.

"United Airlines is providing care and support to customers and crew of flight UA880 which experienced severe and unexpected turbulence during a flight from Houston to London Heathrow today," the airline stated.

"The aircraft diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel. We wish these passengers and crew a quick recovery from their injuries."

Update 12.10pm: The HSE has confirmed that 12 people were taken to hospital.

Two cabin crew and 10 passengers were taken to University Hospital Limerick.

Eleven have since been discharged.

Aviation officials said the United Airlines flight from Houston, Texas in the US to London Heathrow had to be diverted to Shannon Airport after hitting severe turbulence.

Earlier: Fourteen passengers and two crew members have been taken to hospital after a transatlantic jet encountered turbulence over the Atlantic this morning.

United Airlines flight UA-880 made an emergency landing at Shannon shortly before 6am.

The Boeing 767-300 jet, with over 207 passengers and crew of 13 on board, was about 500 kilometres south west of Ireland at the time.

The jet landed safely and was met at the terminal by ambulance paramedics.

A total of 14 passengers and two cabin crew staff have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The airline has confirmed that it is providing care and support to customers and crew.

A spokesman confirmed that the aircraft "experienced severe and unexpected turbulence".

"Fourteen customers and two flight attendants have been taken to a local hospital. We wish these passengers and crew a quick recovery from their injuries," the spokesman added.

Passengers have been taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.

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