That is really a scary and frighting situation. Anyway the description you give of what happen is exactly what can increase the fear of flying in people. A key to fight the fear of flying is knowledge and especial when it comes to turbulences most people lack the knowledge. Somehow in the popular media it always sounds like that there are mysterious pockets or regions with no air or less air which causes planes to fall. That is just wrong.

Turbulence are created by the fast often very chaotic and unpredictable movement of air. The movement is caused by temperature differences of the air. If you enter such an area with a plane you will get moved around like a ship on a stormy sea. Like in the case of a ship the engines of the plane have to be powered up to keep the plane maneuverable and to hold course and altitude. But again the reason for the instability is not because the plane entered some kind of air-less pocket. Ever tried to maneuver a boat that had no kind of power of its own (doesn't matter if the boat is power by paddles, sails or an engine)? It is impossible. In case of a plane it is somewhat similar (even so it is possible to glide a plane and still maneuver it to some extend).