This is something that you learn in the aviation academy and you train for in the simulator.
Aborted or rejected landing is when for some reason it is not safe to land anymore, so the pilots decide last minute to abort the landing. The reasons can be bad weather or technical issues, in any case the decision is made last minute, so there will be no communication about it, even though everyone will realize quite soon what is happening. Sometimes the landing gears already touched the ground when the plane goes back up in the air abruptly. The following action is to gain altitude, go around and attempt another landing. General rule is that after two unsuccessful attempts, it is advisable to opt for a diversion.
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| Thailand, Phuket airport attached to the beach |
It can be a routine challenge, but when unfavorable conditions start to pile up, it can turn into a disaster. Do you remember that case of FlyDubai crash in Russia in 2016? I do very well, because just a couple of months after that I had my first rejected landing! It was a Cairo turnaround, demanding day, we all knew in advance. During the approach to Egypt pilots advised there is a sand storm in Cairo and the landing might be bumpy. Well, not only was it bumpy, but it seemed like the aircraft was dancing left and right all the time. At that time we were still cheerful and carefree as it is normal to have a bumpy landing. Until just before the touchdown we found ourselves attached to the back of the seat, heard the sound change and felt the abrupt motion of sinking before returning up in the air. That's how I can best describe the feeling of an aborted landing. It wasn't funny anymore. Too bad that we had 2 suppy Crew with us (newbees that just finished the academy and are doing their observation flights before finally getting their wings) and they were quite puzzled. The turbulence became so bad that the passengers started screaming and woooowing and unfortunately vomiting as well. I started to feel nauseous myself from all that shaking. Second attempt, fingers crossed. We are ready. But the weather doesn't get better and the landing gets aborted AGAIN. So that is the moment when I started thinking about FlyDubai case (peace be upon them), and began to worry. All the attention was on the pilots decision: divert or attempt again?! There were 2 more airlines who like us couldn't manage to land and were performing a go around as well for more than 1h. The situation was tense, the air was heavy, smelly and fragile. Everyone were serious and on alert. Third attempt. Shaking, dancing, shouts and then finally touchdown, we made it!!! A huge applause was heard in the whole cabin as a sense of relief was palpable. During the disembarkation people kept thanking the pilots who in this occasion came out to greet them. Cabin Crew included! I will not tell you about the mess in the cabin upon arrival. Looked like the hurricane passed our way!
And you would think that was the end of the day: I wish! We still had to operate the return flight and after the sand storm was gone we were safe to depart. On the way back we had a medical case, a diabetic person collapsing in the middle of the cabin, so we had to stop the service and assist him, since on the small Airbus 320 there isn't much space (he occupied the only existing aisle) and the Crew in economy are 2 (the suppies are there to observe only, remember?). Well it all ended well, paramedics assisted the casualty as soon as we landed. But back to base we truly thought among ourselves: "What a hell happened today?!". We were utterly exhausted from such a psychological effort on both sectors. After a day like that you just need to sleep and reset. Start over, thankful for a new day.
I like to think about the new day with one of my favorites from Bublé "Feeling good".
