Air New Zealand passengers had a bumpy flight from Japan to Auckland, with one passenger saying it caused an "absolute mess."
Oliver Philp was on the flight with his partner and says the flight started off fairly normal until an hour up in the air.
"The dinner service had just been sent out and everyone was happily eating," Mr Philp says.
"Shortly after however, the plane violently dropped for what seemed like an age, followed by violent shaking for around three or so minutes. Then the second drop happened."
Mr Philp says there was a unified scream from passengers out of shock and confusion.
Wine was splashed over the ceiling and food went flying into the aisle.
Wine on the ceiling of the cabin (Oliver Philp)
The intercom remained quiet until it had calmed down, then a flight attendant explained it was severe turbulence and they were diverting from the course to avoid it.
"Satirically ending the message with 'there is nothing wrong with the plane, yet'," he says, "everyone in the cabin had a giggle, it relieved a bit of tension."
Mr Philp says crew immediately attended to passengers and were very professional and calm.
"Everything else was cheery for the rest of the flight."
An Air New Zealand flight attendant says it sounded like the flight hit clear air turbulence pockets of which appear out of nowhere and the pilots can't predict.
She said not much can be done when experiencing that sort of turbulence.
Mr Philp says he had heard some passengers were burnt from hot liquid in the rear cabin and the head flight attendant receiving a severe cut.
Another horror flight to Miami International Airport on an American airline occurred on Friday where several people were injured due to turbulence.
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