AT least 45 passengers and crew were badly injured when a Mexican plane suffered terrifying turbulence.

Footage from Volaris flight 423 showed overhead compartments wrecked and at least one person being lying on the floor receiving treatment.

The plane was halfway through its journey from Guadalajara to Tijuana, both in Mexico, when it hit a pocket of turbulence.

The Airbus A320 was flying at an altitude of 34,000ft when it began throwing passengers and loose objects around.

Federal police confirmed 45 people were injured in the incident and seven had been taken to hospital.

Those not taken to hospital were treated by Red Cross paramedics in Tijuana airport.

A video taken on board the flight showed bleeding cuts on the hands of the man filming.

The camera then moved down to show an injured person lying on the floor.

A crew member could be heard on the public address system asking for a doctor.

In a statement, the airline said: "Some clients and members of the crew were reported as injured.

"Clients and members of the crew were attended to after landing in Tijuana by the medical services."

Volaris is a Mexican low-cost airline and is Mexico's second largest airline, serving domestic and international destinations within the Americas.

Aviation authorities Mexico initially said 29 people were hurt and 12 of them hospitalised after an airliner hit a pocket of turbulence.

The government's Civil Aviation office described the turbulence as "moderate."

It said the plane continued on to Tijuana, where paramedics were waiting.

The 12 hospitalised included eight passengers and four flight attendants.