UK flight in terror plunge over Atlantic

Travellers were caught in a terrifying mid-air drama as a London to Los Angeles flight plunged when it hit severe turbulence.

Four passengers suffered broken bones and a flight attendant sprained her ankle as they were thrown around the cabin of the United Airlines Boeing 777. One person on board described the drama as "very, very scary".

Flight 935, which left Heathrow just after 10am yesterday, was over the Atlantic when it got into trouble. It diverted to Montreal and the injured were taken to hospital.

Passenger Laura Desdorides of Los Angeles, a former flight attendant, said the turbulence hit suddenly while the seat-belt sign was off and people were walking around the cabin. "We lost altitude quickly. It was very, very scary," she said. "Those who were out of their seats had it rough."

A total of 196 passengers, 12 crew and three pilots were on board. The unhurt travellers were transferred to another flight and landed in LA early today.

Safety investigators will check the aircraft's data recorder. A spokesman for United Airlines said the turbulence was "severe" but could not say how high the plane had been flying or how far it fell.