Plane's harrowing 28,000 feet plunge in 10 minutes left 270 passengers shook. Here's what happened

The United Airlines plane made a U-turn back to Newark airport.

A United Airlines Flight 510, en route from Newark to Rome, abruptly descended more than 28,000 feet in just 10 minutes, necessitating a dramatic reversal back to its origin at Newark Liberty International Airport, in a heart-stopping ordeal that unfolded on Wednesday.

This unexpected turn of events was attributed to a critical issue with the aircraft's cabin pressurization system, sending shockwaves through the 270 passengers and 14 crew members on board.

As the Boeing 777 started on its journey from Newark at 8:37 pm, the expectation was a tranquil flight to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport. But, approximately three hours into the flight, a spokesperson for United Airlines disclosed that the aircraft encountered a concerning drop in cabin pressure, leading the pilot to execute a rapid descent and initiate a return to Newark.

The plane's unscheduled landing occurred at 12:27 am, leaving travellers bewildered and shaken. United Airlines clarified the situation, stating that the plane had returned to Newark as a precautionary measure "to address a possible loss of cabin pressure." The flight landed safely and there was never any loss of cabin pressure, the airline said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concurred, affirming that the incident was indeed linked to a "pressurization issue," compelling the aircraft's swift change of course.

According to data from FlightAware, the aircraft had plummeted an astonishing 28,000 feet within a mere 10-minute span before the corrective action was taken, New York Post reported.

For the passengers destined for Italy, this abrupt shift in plans led to a series of unexpected events. Upon landing back at Newark, they disembarked the Boeing 777 and were accommodated on another United Airlines aircraft for their journey to Rome.