Dozens were injured after severe turbulence damaged the interior of a Boeing jet

At least 30 passengers have been wounded after their Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay was hit by severe turbulence.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was forced to make an emergency landing in Natal airport, in northeastern Brazil at 2.30am on Monday.

Footage shared online shows people onboard the flight, which took off in Madrid, panicking and shouting.

One man appears to be climbing into the overhead bins above the seats, with his feet hanging out of the storage.

In photographs released on social media, many of the seats can be seen collapsed over, with overhead bins hanging out and badly damaged.

Air Europa #UX45 experienced turbulence en route to MVD. The aircraft diverted safely to Natal where more than two dozen passengers were treated for injuries, some serious. https://t.co/K0ceemShLg

Video below appears to show a passenger in the ceiling above the overhead bins. https://t.co/ppMewa05GT

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 1, 2024

Dozens were reportedly taken to hospital following the incident on the flight, which was destined for Montevideo, Uruguay.

The flight was forced to make an emergency landing over 4,000km from its destination (Picture: Flightradar24)

A number of passengers suffered cervical fractures and hit their heads during the turbulence, reported News site G1. 

At least two passengers were reportedly still in hospital on Monday afternoon.

AirEuropa UX45 pic.twitter.com/SsDUGJ7sXy

— NC ???? (@Drazela) July 1, 2024

The aircraft, Flight UX045, requested an emergency landing at 2.32am at Natal airport north-eastern Brazil, which is over 4,000km from Montevideo, according to its operator, Zurich Airport Brazil.

In a statement posted by airline on X, they said it was ‘the airport that could most quickly attend to passengers with medical needs’.

‘The plane has landed normally and the minor injuries that were reported are already being treated.

‘This afternoon a plane will take off from Madrid to pick up the passengers and continue the trip to Uruguay.’

The airline said the passengers will be moving to Recife before travelling to Monteo, after they have been treated in centres in Natal.

‘Natal was the airport that could serve passengers with medical needs the fastest,’ the airline said.

David Wilson