- Korean Air flight aborted landing at Tokyo's Narita Airport due to strong crosswinds and turbulence
- The Airbus A321neo swayed sharply just above the runway before pilots initiated a go-around
- Viral videos of the incident showed dramatic plane movement, and viewers praised the pilot's decision-making
A Korean Air flight attempting to land at Tokyo's Narita International Airport sparked tense moments for passengers after it was forced to abort its landing moments before touchdown due to challenging weather conditions. The incident, captured in videos now circulating widely on social media, highlights the risks posed by strong crosswinds during aircraft landings. While such manoeuvres are part of standard safety procedures, the dramatic footage has drawn significant attention online, with many praising the pilots' quick decision-making under pressure.
What Happened During The Landing Attempt
According to reports, the Korean Air Airbus A321neo encountered strong crosswinds and turbulence during its final approach to Narita Airport. As the aircraft descended towards the runway, gusty winds appeared to destabilise the plane, causing it to sway noticeably from side to side.
Viral videos show the aircraft wobbling sharply just metres above the ground, moments before touchdown. As per reports, the pilots initiated a go-around - a safety manoeuvre in which an aircraft aborts its landing and climbs back into the air for another attempt. The aircraft regained stability shortly after pulling away from the runway.
The incident took place amid difficult weather conditions around Tokyo, where strong crosswinds made landing operations particularly challenging that day. Crosswinds, which blow perpendicular to a runway, are known to complicate landings and require precise handling by pilots.
A go-around in such conditions is considered a routine and precautionary decision, especially if the aircraft is not aligned safely for landing.
Videos Go Viral Online
The footage of the incident, which remains unverified, quickly gained traction on social media platforms. Viewers were quick to react to the dramatic visuals, with many expressing relief at the outcome and applauding the flight crew's response.
One wrote, "A very lucky lift off. God was kind." Another added, "Super presence of mind. Saved lives." A third explained, "This is normal and considered best practice for pilots to abort crosswind if the final leg becomes a bad landing."
A viewer wrote, "Been in the back on a go around there. Hear that NRT wind is no joke. Well done, pilot." Another exclaimed, "The plane looked like it defied physics for a moment, looks like it was gonna stall hard. The thing that saved it was a good balance, but more importantly, a full thrust on those engines. The raw power just forced enough air under the wings to lift it. What a thing to see."
Aircraft Lands Safely Later
As per reports, no injuries or damage were reported following the aborted landing attempt. The aircraft eventually landed safely after the situation stabilised, bringing relief to passengers onboard.
