Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 14: Inclement weather accompanied by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms disrupted flight landings at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on Thursday, May 14 evening. Flights were forced to hover in the sky for an extended period, sparking panic and anxiety among the public.

Air India Express flight IX 2924 (Boeing 737 Max 8), arriving from Bengaluru, attempted to land at the Mangaluru airport but was thwarted by the adverse weather conditions. Consequently, the aircraft entered a 'holding pattern' and circled the skies multiple times.

Sources indicated that heavy rain, lightning, and thick cloud cover in and around Mangaluru on Thursday evening caused poor visibility, severely hindering the landing process.

Anxiety among locals

Residents in the Moodbidri, Beltangady, Bantwal, and Vitla regions grew anxious after noticing the aircraft flying at a visibly low altitude. Seeing the plane circle the same areas repeatedly, many locals suspected that the aircraft had developed a technical snag.

The flight's trajectory, particularly its holding pattern near Vitla, was tracked and recorded on the 'Flightradar' app. Videos and information regarding the circling plane quickly went viral on social media platforms, further fueling public concern.

Safe landing

After remaining in the holding pattern for a considerable amount of time, the weather conditions improved slightly, allowing the aircraft to finally make a safe landing at the Mangaluru International Airport.

Sources at the airport confirmed that a total of two flights experienced difficulties during landing due to the heavy rain and dense cloud cover. However, both aircraft successfully completed their holding patterns and touched down safely without any untoward incidents.