A Continental Airlines jet has made an emergency landing in Miami after being struck by major turbulence.

Some passengers were snoozing on Flight 123 from Rio de Janiero when the drama unfolded over the Atlantic.

Suddenly, the jetliner began to plunge and shake violently. Passengers were thrown out of their seats against luggage bins. Among the 26 people injuried was a child who smacked his chest on a tray table and started bleeding.

The plane, which was bound for Houston, was rerouted to Miami to allow treatment to be given to the injuried including four who were seriously hurt.

Passengers said the terror lasted only a few seconds and the cabin quietened down quickly when it was over.

20-year-old Camila Machado was treated for a bruised cheek and said she thought the worst.

She said "I felt like we were going to die. Like, the first thing I thought about was Air France."

It's not known whether a storm is to blame for the air incident.

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