A MAN has told how he feared for his life as the plane that was flying him and his wife back from a holiday cruise hit a freak storm and went into a terrifying dive.

Steven and Nicola Perks were two of the 213 passengers on the bmi flight from Cyprus to Manchester on Monday, which was battered by giant hailstones and had to suddenly drop 11,000 ft to a safer altitude.

A football-sized hole was ripped in the nose of the Airbus and its windshield was shattered.

Mr Perks, aged 39, of Ferndale Crescent, Kidderminster, and his 30-year-old wife, were returning from a relaxing seven-day Mediterranean cruise when the storm struck.

"We'd been in the air about two hours and I think we were over Germany," he said.

"We experienced some turbulence and the seat belt warning came on.

"The pilot said we'd probably be in it for 10 minutes. Suddenly the plane shook quite violently and it seemed to drop out of the sky.

"Apparently, it went into a dive. The girl in the aisle seat actually flew into the air at that point."

The charge nurse added: "I was probably more frightened than I'd ever been at any other point in my life."

He went on: "There was a point when I did think we could die in this."

Nervous

But despite his own terror Mr Perks had to think of his wife - a nervous flier at the best of times.

He said: "I had to put all my attention into helping to keep her calm.

"It helped me keep my fears under control."

The couple will certainly not forget their hair-raising ordeal.

"My wife said she'll never fly again. I wouldn't say it's put me off flying for good, but I'm not in any great hurry to get on a plane right now," said Mr Perks.