Aircraft destined for Spain was forced to make an emergency landing

On 26 August 2008 a Boeing 737 passenger aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Bellegarde Airport (LFBL/LIG) in Limoges, France, after a sudden loss of cabin pressure. Ryanair airline officials stated that 16 of the 175 passengers and crew were taken to the hospital after they experienced ear problems because of the rapid decompression. Reports indicate that the flight was travelling from Bristol, England, to Barcelona, Spain. The aircraft rapidly descended 26,400 ft/8,000 m in approximately five minutes, causing oxygen masks to deploy and violently shaking the passenger cabin. Investigators are inspecting the aircraft on the ground and have not yet determined what caused the rapid decompression.