Ryanair’s Frankfurt Fumble: 33 Passengers Hospitalized, a Few Ear Bleeds
On a sunny July day in 2018, a seemingly ordinary flight from Dublin to Zadar hit a hiccup that turned it into a thriller‑in‑the‑sky. The aircraft, flight FR7312, ran into a cabin‑pressure drop, triggered the green‑lit mask descent, and decided a detour to Frankfurt Hahn Airport was the best play.
What Went Down – Literally
- Rapid Descent: Within just 7 minutes, the plane plummeted from a lofty 37,000 feet to a modest 10,000 feet – all while the crew followed their SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) without missing a beat.
- Mask On: The cabin crew dropped the oxygen masks, like a pause‑button on a binge‑watch series, while passengers inhaled the sweet scent of medical air.
- Emergency Landing: The plane, a polished dancer in the sky, landed smoothly at Hahn. Passengers were unloaded for their own safety.
Hospitalities Gone Awry
Out of 189 on board, 33 passengers found themselves on an unplanned hospital day, some even dealing with ear bleeding—a fact that probably left them asking, “Did my ears just get the prime cut of the emergency?”
German police confirmed the numbers and noted that several passengers didn’t bother to continue to Zadar, choosing to cut short their trip instead. It’s a tough decision when your trip turned into an unintended “make‑your‑own‑hospital” adventure.
Investigators on the Scene
- BFU (Bureau d’Etudes de la Fabrication Aeronautique): Rushed to the airport to secure the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. They also conducted interviews with the crew and the witness crew.
- No Speculations Yet: The BFU spokesperson declined to guess the cause—keeping the detective work open-ended.
Ryanair’s Response – A Touch of Hospitality
Ryanair didn’t take this lightly. The airline promised to cover hotel stays for the affected passengers. However, the hospitality sector’s gold rush proved the “availability” was more like a myth—hotels were as scarce as a perfect WiFi signal in a remote cabin.
Despite the hiccup, Ryanair’s fleet keeps buzzing across 37 nations and transported a staggering 130 million passengers last year—making it Europe’s biggest airline (by passenger count).
Food for Thought – Or a Case of Smoked E‑Crete?
While this didn’t involve an e‑cig, a separate Air China incident earlier that week raised eyebrows. A co‑pilot’s e‑smoke apparently dipped cabin oxygen levels, reminding us that the skies are not a smoke‑free zone all the same.
So, the next time you board a Ryanair, remember: the skies may surprise you, and your ears could be the first to blow up in all the wrong ways. Safe travels—if you can handle a bit of drama!
