Missed landings and other flight stories

[cherrypiepie]

I was on a flight at the weekend that touched for half a second down then took off again straight away, it was pretty scary, and very confusing, shocking.

Cue me gripping the armrests and a hushed silence and prayers of 'god will save us' from the back row. A few oxygen masks came down. It had been pretty rough but not horrendously turbulent and I it was very cloudy with very low cloud and torrential rain so bad you couldn't even see if it was rain. I was observing BA the aircraft on the grounds in a weird little pen when we touched down once (normal expect a couple of thunks) then immediately engines roared and we were soon climbing again. We circled for about 15 Minutes then the captain explained it was a gust of wind just as we touch down that made it unsafe. About 30 minutes later we landed safely.

A Google search tells me this is a go around or a misled landing and is normal not an emergency.

I can't get over how odd and weird this was!

Any other weird flight stories?

If you have ever flown into Gibraltar then you'll know its the smallest runway ever..... If the pilot misses or lands too far in he doesn't have time time to stop the plane so will immediately pull back up, loop round and try again.

Something very similar happened to us on a flight back from Puglia a few years ago. The weather was very windy and twice the plane came very close to landing and then suddenly started climbing again. I honestly started to think "this is it, this is how I die", but on the third attempt we landed safely and I was tearful with relief. I have to say the captain sounded incredibly calm and reassuring throughout and that helped a lot.

I slept through two missed landings coming into Chicago once. Only found out about them when I queried why there was whooping and applause when we finally landed.

I met an ex cabin steward on holiday once. He had loved his job until one day he was overcome with sudden and extreme claustrophobia. This manifested itself in him going into the crew toilet and taking all his clothes off.

His colleagues were kind and looked after him until landing, and he was unable to fly again.

Flying from Manzanilla, Mexico to LA.

The captain came on and said we would be emergency landing in Puerto Vallarta.

The landing was incredibly heavy and frightening as the plane was full of fuel.

Turns out the cover for the electrical plug in had been left open.

We sat on the runway for almost two hours while they checked everything. Children and babies crying as they were hungry. I had some fruit bars so handed those out. They ran out of water and only after a fairly serious protest did they bring a bunch more on board.

Years ago, I worked in New Zealand. I had to fly down to Wellington early one morning for work and we only landed on the third attempt! First attempt, the wheels hit tarmac and we went straight back up; second attempt a few minutes later and we didn't actually touch but were almost on the runway. We had more time circling before attempt no 3 and the pilot came on the tannoy to say that, if that didn't work, we'd have to land in an entirely different part of the country. I was really pissed off at the thought that I'd got up so early and had so much stress to make the plane (taxi hadn't shown up) and might not make the meeting. The third attempt was successful

Landed at Schipol airport, the entire tarmac full of flashing blue lights and emergency vehicles. Turn on my phone and get a ton of alerts about ongoing terrorist alert. They let us out though and I made sure I got as far from the airport as possible ASAP.
What really happened: www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50325887

I've not heard of any crashes caused by a pilot doing a go around. I've heard of a few crashes where arguably the pilot should have gone around but didn't.

Gosh I had a few. I'm such a nervous wreck when flying, I absolutely hate it and am terrified every single time despite the fact that I've been flying for at least 6 times a year for the past 13 years. I am actually travelling in a few days so already thinking this thread popping up is a bad sign Mu stomach is in knots...

Anyone flew to Madeira before? FUCKING JESUS CHRIST. Landing in extreme crosswind is standard apparently and the runway is built on pillars in the ocean.We attempted to land 3 times. Plane went from side to side as it was getting closer to the runway, but you couldn't actually see the runway itself as there was no land around it, just the fucking OCEAN. And even when you take off again the plane is swinging side to side. It actually puts me off going back there although DH and I always plan to. Beautiful place. But I chicken I out last minute and book somewhere else.

Same happened when flying to Budapest a few years ago. Just as we were literally about to touch down, the engines made a growling noise, plane went up again in a steep angle and I thought I was going to pass out from fear. I was just sitting there crying thinking we were going to run out of fuel if we can't land soon enough. Pilot never made an announcement, flight attendant said eventually that the pilot deemed the conditions unsafe for landing so he aborted it.

Then coming back from Crete, a storm was approaching and it was so very windy! The plane was swinging side to side as we took off and take off was unusually bumpy and the whole plane was rattling. I must have looked a right state as a flight attendant got un-belted and came over to check if I was ok. I was so embarrassed for being so stupid that I just snapped at her saying "IM FINE THANK YOU! I did apologise later...

We had it twice on Saturday morning before finally landing on the third try. I only fly once or twice a year but I’ve had it happen three times in the last 4 years now. I don’t know if it’s becoming more common or I’m just unlucky. It seemed pretty standard though, although on Saturday it was the first time I’d heard people clap when the plane landed for about 20 years.

@ShirleyPhallus

PLEASE do not stop these stories / experiences stop you flying, they are completely normal, routine things that pilots are well trained for

These really aren’t scare stories, pilots are perfectly well trained for go arounds and planes are very safe to be struck by lightning

Agreed.

Modern teaching (certainly in some places) is a pilot should never think they are committed to have to land instead they should consider every approach to a runway is a considered a potential landing or a potential go around. That’s is because if there is any doubt about the safety of a landing (e.g. traffic ahead, weather such as excess gusts of wind) the safest option is to “go around” and reposition for another approach…and FWIW on many airliners you have the option to go around for a second or so after the wheels touch the runway.

Commercial pilots practice go arounds multiple times in the simulator every six months as part of their recurrent training and testing, in the real world on actual aircraft long haul pilots will possibly have to do one or two a year, short haul pilots (who fly more sectors) possibly having to fly perhaps or two a month…they do however appreciate it’s not something passengers find pleasant…

Oh yep…lightning…been on aircraft struck by lightning several times, no harm done, they are designed to be lightning resistant.

We had a go around a few years back and I was utterly terrified. We had descended rapidly during the flight. Captain said nothing but all passengers were very quiet and noticed it was happening. The approach was very windy/bumpy and in pitch black over water. I was already v anxious. Just as we were about to land the engines roared and we climbed sharply. I was convinced we were about to crash and pulled DS’s seatbelt so tight that he subsequently puked all over my Dsis who was sat on the other side. Shes hard as nails and admitted to crapping herself too (altho now refuses to travel with me and my kids).

I’ve had a couple. One flying from on a small plane Hamburg to London at night. Plane took off and weird alarm came on. Cabin staff looked very distracted but no announcements or anything. After about an hour then announced that we were going to going to have to make an unscheduled landing in ten minutes. People thought we were heading to Brussels or Schipol and were getting cross at the inconvenience. Then they announced were over Hamburg still and would everyone please take the brace position. That’s when I realised that there isn’t actually enough room to do the brace position properly on small planes, especially if you were tall like the guy next to me. It was the longest 10mins of my life, he kept talking to about normal but random stuff given that we were complete strangers. We actually landed safely in a field outside the airport, surrounded by fire engines…and some of us were whisked off to the next flight that was just leaving, they held the plane and literally shoved us in. I was shaking, as was a bit soon to be back in a plane again. But landed safely back in London…

Flight from Manchester to Egypt. Expected to be a 5 hour flight. Approximately 2 hours into the flight the pilot announces that we may have left an important part of the plane being on the runway whilst taking off - part of a wheel. Pilot decided it would be safer to return to Manchester to land with reduced wheels rather than to land in Egypt.
Fly 2 hours home. Circle for a while burning off fuel. Emergency (planned) landing with fire engines etc - fortunately the pilot had warned us how it might look.
Mend plane wheels
Take off again.
Another 5 hours sitting in the plane!

We had one once flying into Gatwick at night, the captain came over the tannoy and explained that just as we were about to land the airport had a power cut and essentially disappeared only for a few seconds but a very crucial few seconds it would seem! We circled round and landed shortly after.

And everyday there are 100s of commercial flights taking off/landing safely. What seems like impending doom on a plane is just a disruption in the cockpit. Since it seems none of us are trained pilots, instructors or aviation engineers then the worries are in our heads. More people die on the roads everyday but we accept that.

I've had that happen @cherrypiepie

More recently the landing was so windy the plane was being tossed about, the passengers broke into applause for the pilot! Turned out we were the last to land that day, they diverted the next flights

@ PersephoneJames are you in the US? A friend of mine is terrified of flying but GP won’t give her anything as strong as Xanax.

Taking off in a torrential thunderstorm from Minorca airport one evening back in 2003. As if having to literally jump from the bus to the plane to avoid the flooded tarmac wasn't bad enough, shortly after take off the crew appeared to be trying to close the door - two of them were frantically trying to seal it firmly closed This was on an old BA 737.

@MintLampShade

Gosh I had a few. I'm such a nervous wreck when flying, I absolutely hate it and am terrified every single time despite the fact that I've been flying for at least 6 times a year for the past 13 years. I am actually travelling in a few days so already thinking this thread popping up is a bad sign Mu stomach is in knots...

Anyone flew to Madeira before? FUCKING JESUS CHRIST. Landing in extreme crosswind is standard apparently and the runway is built on pillars in the ocean.We attempted to land 3 times. Plane went from side to side as it was getting closer to the runway, but you couldn't actually see the runway itself as there was no land around it, just the fucking OCEAN. And even when you take off again the plane is swinging side to side. It actually puts me off going back there although DH and I always plan to. Beautiful place. But I chicken I out last minute and book somewhere else.

Same happened when flying to Budapest a few years ago. Just as we were literally about to touch down, the engines made a growling noise, plane went up again in a steep angle and I thought I was going to pass out from fear. I was just sitting there crying thinking we were going to run out of fuel if we can't land soon enough. Pilot never made an announcement, flight attendant said eventually that the pilot deemed the conditions unsafe for landing so he aborted it.

Then coming back from Crete, a storm was approaching and it was so very windy! The plane was swinging side to side as we took off and take off was unusually bumpy and the whole plane was rattling. I must have looked a right state as a flight attendant got un-belted and came over to check if I was ok. I was so embarrassed for being so stupid that I just snapped at her saying "IM FINE THANK YOU! I did apologise later...

Have you ever landed at Liverpool?

That's quite similar as you come in low across the Mersey before the runway starts! That really freaked me out!

OP I used to work in a high rise office building at a major airport and aborted landings used to happen almost every day.

Never experienced one myself but did have almost the opposite when rolling along the runway about to take off and the plane did an emergency stop. Later explained that the flight ahead was not as quick as it should have been so the “minimum safe distance” would have been breached.

We then had to park at a remote stand for well over an hour to wait for the brakes to cool down before taking off normally

Leaving Cape Verde a couple of years ago on a very rickety old Thomson 757, sitting on the tarmac for several hours without any air con because of a broken engine filter or similar. Sweltering and very uncomfortable. Finally took off on only three engines and shortly afterwards informed we would be diverting via Tenerife.

Sat on the runway at Tenerife for another few hours again without air con while engineers tried to fix the plane. Not allowed off and no information given as to when we would be leaving or if the flight would be cancelled at that point (this might have been the better option).

Eventually arrived back in the UK over ten hours late, tired and stressed at the end of an otherwise good holiday.

Hopefully Thomson/TUI have since replaced their old 757's as I would not want to travel on one again - felt very unsafe.

I live by Gatwick and its common to hear planes suddenly roaring their engines again for a mislanding or go around.

Not so much the last year and a half as nowhere near as many planes up still and the North terminal is still closed. Not stopping them still planning an extra runway though.

Leaving Cape Verde a couple of years ago on a very rickety old Thomson 757, sitting on the tarmac for several hours without any air con because of a broken engine filter or similar. Sweltering and very uncomfortable. Finally took off on only three engines

Hate to say it, not sure what you were told but some of that doesn’t add up….

757s only had two engines at best and even on four engined types such as 747s where something called a “three engined” ferry was allowed to get the airframe to somewhere where it could be fixed it was completely utterly illegal to do it with passengers on board..

@Gumbo Yes I've experienced taking off from Joburg in a thunderstorm - it was terrifying! As we were boarding the plane we could see lightning striking very near to the runway, there was torrential rain and the wind was so strong. Planes were still taking off though at times. We sat on the plane for about an hour or so with the delay because of the weather and then eventually we were given the go ahead to take off. It was awful, for what felt like forever the plane was bouncing around, we could see flashes of lightning out of the window and at one point the plane just dropped and I was almost sick. The guy next to me started off very laid back about it all - "I fly between Joburg and London once a month, flown through loads of thunderstorms" - but after a few minutes even he looked grey faced! The worst part was I was traveling just me and my son, my husband had gone to the UK a fortnight earlier for work, so I had to try and be the calm one for my son and reassure him instead of my husband doing his usual calming me down (I'm a terrible flyer, I get really anxious about it). Also, the catastrophiser in me thought 'my poor husband will end up widowed and childless'! Once we'd eventually got through it the pilot announced that the plane had been hit by lightning "and we should be alright for the rest of the flight" - should being a word that stayed lodged in my brain for the remainder of the 11hr flight! They also said that the storm had been worse than had been expected and that we were the last flight out of joburg before the airport had decided to delay all the other flights. But the flight attendants looked pretty nonplussed about it all and the rest of the flight went absolutely fine. I know the pilots know what they're doing and flying is super safe but it feels so awful when something doesn't go as expected on a flight. Even so, I now dread take offs and can't really relax at all until the seat belt sign pings off.