Jetblue turbulence injures 20 passengers: 'It felt like we dropped 50 storeys'

A flight attendant is fitted with a neck brace after the horror Jetblue flight. Photo RhondaRenee Twitter

More than 20 passengers were injured from severe turbulence that saw them slam into overhead lockers as their plane "dropped like an out of control elevator."

The Jetblue flight from Boston to Sacramento was forced to divert to an airport in Rapid City, South Dakota during the midair drama that left 24 people - 22 passengers and two flight attendants - needing medical help.

Rear toilet was completely ripped from its housing pic.twitter.com/E63wsq0TkY

— Derek Lindahl (@oif_vet) August 12, 2016

Witnesses say passengers were flung around the cabin, with many cracking their heads so hard into the overhead compartments that dents were left in the roof.

"Flight attendant was in galley during incident. Hit her head on ceiling and completely dislodged panel. Cuts, neck injury and concussion," passenger Derek Lindahl wrote on his Twitter account.

He said one woman in front of him rose a metre in the air because she wasn't wearing a seat belt. He grabbed her to hold her to the seat.

View this post on Instagram

The @rapidcitypd brought around crayons and coloring books around to all the children on our @jetblue flight that was forced to land after severe turbulence injured dozens. Thanks to the force and the @rapidcityfiredepartment - we really appreciate your hard work and kindness.

A post shared by Jason Layne (@djjasonlayne) on Aug 11, 2016 at 9:20pm PDT

He also said he'd overheard that "a wild weather pocket caused a downdraft" that caused the plane to "fall 3000-4000ft (900m-1200m) in one shot."

Rhonda Lynam, from California, told MailOnline that she thought she was going to die.

"While we were bouncing around for half an hour, it seemed to get worse outside. It was bad. The lights went out in the cabin," she said. "Then it was like - boom! It was dropping 25, 50 storeys, like an out of control elevator."

Ms Lynam shared a picture on Twitter of her mother in a neck brace getting a hug from a hospital worker after being treated.

yes I have few the hospital staff at Rapid City Regional were fantastic!!! pic.twitter.com/zlRJIcUDwF

— Rhonda Renee Lynam (@Bistrobaby) August 12, 2016

He also said he'd overheard that "a wild weather pocket caused a downdraft" that caused the plane to "fall 3000-4000ft (900m-1200m) in one shot."

Rhonda Lynam, from California, told MailOnline that she thought she was going to die.

"While we were bouncing around for half an hour, it seemed to get worse outside. It was bad. The lights went out in the cabin," she said. "Then it was like - boom! It was dropping 25, 50 storeys, like an out of control elevator."

Ms Lynam shared a picture on Twitter of her mother in a neck brace getting a hug from a hospital worker after being treated.