Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tunis were left frightened after severe turbulence and stormy weather disrupted the aircraft’s attempts to land in the Tunisian capital.
Flight TK 661 was approaching Tunis-Carthage International Airport on September 10 when deteriorating weather conditions reportedly forced the pilots to make repeated approaches before diverting the aircraft to another airport.
A passenger, Marina Maiskaya, shared videos on Instagram showing people inside the cabin gripping their seats and screaming as the aircraft encountered intense turbulence during its descent.
Maiskaya said the flight had been smooth until the aircraft began its approach to Tunis. She described the experience as the most frightening flight of her life, particularly because she was travelling with her mother.
According to her account, the pilots attempted to land at Tunis-Carthage three times while navigating the storm. She said the aircraft was violently shaken during the approaches and appeared to drop suddenly during the third attempt, prompting panic among passengers.
Passengers could be heard shouting in the footage, with one person repeatedly saying, “We will die,” as the aircraft encountered the turbulence.
Maiskaya said passengers became increasingly anxious when it appeared another approach to Tunis might be attempted, with some calling for the flight to divert to another country or airport.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport, about 100 kilometres south of Tunis, where it landed safely.
Videos shared by Maiskaya showed passengers applauding after the aircraft touched down. She later credited the flight crew for bringing the passengers safely to the ground.
The footage and passenger account have not been independently verified, and the apparent aircraft movements shown in the videos do not by themselves establish that the aircraft was “plummeting” or in danger of crashing.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by flight crews when severe weather affects an approach, with diversion providing an alternative when landing conditions are unsuitable.
