Terrified passenger speak out about flight from Austin to Frankfurt that plummeted

Passengers have recounted the terrifying moment their Lufthansa flight from Austin to Frankfurt plummeted 1,000 feet after being hit by lightning saying everything went into 'slow motion' and 'it was like being in a movie.'

Seven people were hospitalized after the horrifying experience which prompted an emergency landing in Washington DC. 

Susan Zimmerman, who was on the flight, told Good Morning America that she was 'shocked' adding that it was the first time many, including staff, had experienced something of this magnitude.

'I don't think even the people that were on board, even the cabin crew, I don't even think any of them have experienced that,' she told the broadcaster. 

'This was shocking. It was kind of like you're in slow motion. 

Passengers have recounted the terrifying moment their Lufthansa flight from Austin to Frankfurt plummeted 1,000 feet after being hit by lightning

'You just see everything - like in a movie where you see everything lift and all of a sudden it just comes right back down - it felt like five seconds of falling and then there was shaking.' 

Adding to the shock factor, many passengers didn't have their seatbelts on because the sign had not been triggered before the unexpected drop in altitude.

Broken glass and debris lay scattered among the cabins as passengers came to grips with the traumatic wave of turbulence they experienced at 37,000 feet while flying over Tennessee. 

The flight landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9pm, just three hours into the 10.5-hour flight to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. 

One man, who claimed his wife was on the flight, said 'people who didn't have their seat belts fastened got hurt mostly cause it came as surprise.'

A photo the man's wife sent him shows food trays, and containers, silverware, and pamphlets scattered through the vestibule.

Terrified passengers were surrounded by a 'lot of broken glass' and left screaming in terror after Lufthansa Flight 469 hit a traumatic wave of turbulence at 37,000 feet

The flight landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport around 9pm, just three hours into 10.5-hour flight from Austin to Germany. Seven passengers were taken to the hospital

A passenger, who spoke anonymously with the Washington Post, said food 'went flying into the air, hitting and even damaging the ceiling of the plane.' 

Passengers sitting in the row in front were heavily bleeding and wheeled off the plane following the chaos. 

Another person whose sister and brother-in-law were on the flight said it was 'exceptionally scary, [with] lots of broken glass and screaming and multiple injuries,' according to The Sun. 

The airline offered passengers a link to request a refund after angry passengers took to social media to express their distress: 'Many of our plans have been affected, our clothes are ruined, and we definitely expect far more than just a hotel tonight.' 

'We would like to get immediate help and compensation for the catastrophic forced landing incident involving LH469,' one passenger wrote. 

The airline also provided hotel accommodation for displaced passengers.  

Another passenger, however, thanked the crew: '@lufthansa thank you so much for your incredible care of Flt 469 tonight! My family will be eternally grateful for the skill of the pilot and co-pilot and care from the crew.' 

The FAA is investigating the incident. 

The flight landed at DC airport three hours into its journey - the airline providing hotel accommodation to passengers