Flight attendant sues airline over "frightening" turbulent landing

The cabin shook, passengers were launched up from their seats and luggage flew out of the overhead bins during a terrifying landing that was anything but routine, according to a former Aer Lingus flight attendant. Now Cassandra Reddin has filed a lawsuit against the airline, alleging that the flight's co-pilot failed to adequately supervise the landing by the plane's captain.

Reddin claims to have suffered whiplash and back injuries during the troubled landing at Dublin Airport in November 2009, which was allegedly caused by an excessive rate of descent. Panic attacks and nightmares about the incident plagued her after the terrifying ordeal. She told the Irish High Court:

"It got very bumpy and the plane was swaying from side to side. I was very frightened. The gear was down and the plane was rocking from side to side. The plane bounced off the runway three times. Passengers were screaming and we could hear glass smashing and alcohol was pouring on the passengers. I thought we were all dead, that the aeroplane was not going to stop. I was shaking.”

Some of Reddin's former co-workers have agreed with her assessment – and her fears. Fellow flight attendant Aine Maher says the plane shook from side to side and that the aircraft was out of control. "It was the scariest flight ever," Maher – who is still an Aer Lingus crew member – told the court. "I did not think any of us would be OK."

Reddin remains employed with the airline, but no longer in a flight attendant capacity; she now helps run Aer Lingus' social media department. The airline has denied Reddin's account of the incident, claiming that the Airbus A320 landed safely.

RWV has reached out to Aer Lingus for comment.