Moment tearful passengers scream in terror as Turkish Airlines pilot tries and fails three times to land during a storm
Passengers on a Turkish Airlines flight were left screaming and in tears after their pilot made three failed attempts to land during a severe storm, in footage that has since circulated widely on social media. The Airbus A321 had flown from Istanbul to Tunisia on 10 September, and encountered violent turbulence while trying to land at Tunis-Carthage Airport, with the plane appearing to plunge suddenly during one approach. The incident highlights growing concerns about worsening turbulence linked to climate change, even though aviation experts stress it poses no major safety risk.
One passenger was heard shouting "we will die" as others shrieked in terror, with a Russian-speaking tourist who filmed the ordeal saying she had "never in my life" been so frightened. After passengers reportedly pleaded for the plane to divert, it was rerouted to Enfidha-Hammamet Airport, roughly 55 miles away, where it landed safely to applause. Research by the University of Reading found severe turbulence rose 55% between 1979 and 2020 due to changes in the jet stream driven by global warming, with such incidents expected to become more frequent and intense. Turkish Airlines has been contacted for comment.
- Turkish Airlines jet made three failed landing attempts in a Tunisia storm
- Terrified passengers screamed as plane appeared to plunge suddenly
- Flight diverted safely to Enfidha-Hammamet Airport after ordeal
New here? Start with this
Turkish Airlines flight TK entered Tunis-Carthage Airport during a severe storm on 10 September, and its pilot made three attempts to land before diverting to another airport. A passenger on board filmed the ordeal, and the footage has since spread widely online, showing frightened travellers screaming and crying as the plane struggled against the weather.
The flight, operated with an Airbus A321, was eventually rerouted around 55 miles to Enfidha-Hammamet Airport, where it landed without incident. Diversions of this kind are a standard safety procedure when conditions at the intended airport are judged too risky, though the intensity of this particular episode is what has drawn attention.
The episode has also fed into wider discussion about aviation turbulence, which researchers say has become more frequent in recent decades as a result of changes to the jet stream linked to global warming. Aviation specialists note that while turbulence can be frightening for passengers, it is rarely a serious safety threat to modern aircraft.