IndiGo Flight's Heart-In-The-Thumb Go-Around: Cyclone Fengal's Fury Makes for Nail-Biting Experience in Chennai
A video of an IndiGo flight, which made a dramatic go-around while trying to land in Chennai due to heavy rain and strong winds, has gone viral. The video captures the flight's struggle to land as Cyclone Fengal intensified over the region, causing adverse weather conditions.
On November 30, 2024, an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Chennai faced severe turbulence as the cyclone’s impact began to be felt. As the plane neared the runway, high winds and rain forced the cockpit crew to abort the landing attempt and perform a standard “go-around” maneuver. The plane was seen tilting dangerously to the left just before it ascended back into the sky, only a few feet above the ground.
IndiGo confirmed the incident and said that the cyclone's strong weather conditions, including gusty winds and rain, had affected the flight. The same conditions later forced the closure of Chennai Airport. The airline said that such maneuvers are part of routine safety protocols. "A go-around is a standard procedure undertaken when it is not possible to land safely, and our pilots are well-trained for this scenario," IndiGo said in a statement.
The footage is dramatic as the plane loses its balance as it attempted to land. However, nobody was injured, and it landed safely at about 12:40 pm just before the airport closed down in light of the cyclone.
Around the same time, the cyclone Fengal entered the region, bringing landfall with heavy rain and strong gusty winds across the northern parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Three people lost their lives in various weather-related incidents in Chennai and its waterlogged streets. The impact of the cyclone had been severe with intense winds and rain leaving most areas of the city flooded.
This incident, caught on video, reminds us of the power of nature and how important safety protocols are. The professionalism of the pilots to execute a go-around in such extreme conditions is evidence of the high training and readiness of aviation professionals.
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