Plane to Israel Drops Suddenly, Passenger Describes 'Rollercoaster'

A plane heading to Israel suddenly dropped 17,000ft (5,200m) in less than two minutes, according to a passenger on board. The aircraft was later diverted, meaning it did not complete its original journey and landed somewhere else instead.

One passenger described the terrifying experience, comparing the sudden descent to a rollercoaster ride. A descent is when a plane moves downward through the air. Normally, planes descend slowly and smoothly before landing, so such a fast drop is highly unusual.

Losing 17,000ft of altitude in under two minutes is a dramatic and rapid change. Altitude refers to how high a plane is flying above the ground. Such a sudden loss of height can cause passengers to feel strong physical effects, similar to a theme park ride.

The word rollercoaster, used by the passenger, captures the sense of sudden, uncontrolled movement. It suggests the drop felt frightening and unexpected, rather than a normal part of the flight.

Flights are sometimes diverted due to technical problems, weather, or safety concerns, though the exact cause of this incident has not been confirmed. The incident clearly left a strong impression on at least one passenger, who chose to speak publicly about the experience afterwards.

At this stage, details remain limited. It is not yet clear why the plane dropped so quickly, where it eventually landed, or whether anyone on board was injured. Further information about the flight and the cause of the sudden descent may be released later.