More than 20 people were injured, one seriously, when an internal Chinese flight hit severe air turbulence, state press reported on July 6.

Passengers and crew were slammed into the overhead luggage compartments when the Shanghai Airlines plane hit turbulence on the way to Beijing on July 5, forcing the pilot to make an early landing, The Beijing News reported.

One stewardess was hospitalised with a serious spinal injury while the others suffered head and neck injuries, it said.

The plane, carrying around 260 passengers, was forced to land at the airport in Tianjin city, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) east of Beijing, and the passengers continued their journey by bus.