Report Tornado Forces Flight to Abort Landing Amid Phuket Turbulence - video

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Earlier today, holidaymakers aboard a Thai AirAsia flight faced unimaginable peril as a sudden tornado forced their plane to abort its landing at Phuket. The drama unfolded when 38-year-old Thongchai, along with his family, was en route to the popular island destination. Known for sharing his travel experiences through his popular FocusKhonkaen page, Thongchai found himself documenting far more than a typical scenic descent.

 

As the aircraft approached Phuket, what began as a routine landing quickly evolved into a nerve-wracking ordeal. Ominous, dark clouds gathered over the sea beneath, rapidly transforming the weather into a scene one might expect from a disaster film. Passengers peering out of the windows were met with the startling sight of a tornado forming ominously in their flight path.

 

Thongchai described capturing the chilling moment on his camera just as conditions turned perilous. "I was filming the view as we were about to land. The sky darkened suddenly and rain poured down. Then I saw it—a tornado swirling right below us. I’ve never seen one up close before," he recounted, his voice still imbued with disbelief.

 

The rapid development of the tornado thwarted the initial landing attempt, forcing the pilot to circle for over 30 agonising minutes. The flight deck’s calm announcements reassured the passengers, but aboard, the atmosphere was tense and silent, aside from the occasional murmured prayers. Thongchai noted a fellow traveller near him, experiencing his first flight to Phuket, was particularly shaken, repeating the Mahajakkraphat prayer in self-assurance.

 

 

 

Despite the anxiety coursing through the cabin, the plane eventually landed without incident, earning high praise for the captain’s composure and skill in such challenging conditions.

 

Capturing the quickly-sharing footage of the tornado, Thongchai’s post went viral, painting a vivid picture of the chaos over the Andaman Sea. While Phuket's locals took the situation in stride, brushing it off as typical of the island's stormy season, the incident left a lasting impression on those new to these natural spectacles.

 

Just weeks prior, Phuket was abuzz with reports of similar tornado sightings, spinning through Chalong Bay’s anchorage, although these were later discredited by members of the local Phuket Cruising Yacht Club. Still, this experience provided a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability, especially for tourists unfamiliar with the region's climatic quirks.

 

Reflecting on the ordeal, Thongchai expressed gratitude for the safe outcome, calling it an unforgettable "once-in-a-lifetime scare." Despite the frights, this episode certainly adds a dramatic tale to his travel repertoire, one that will surely be retold for years to come.

 

 

 

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[Tropicalevo]

Looks more like a waterspout to me.

 

 

(from Wikipedia)

[KannikaP]

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Looks more like a waterspout to me.

 

 

(from Wikipedia)

Dangerous or not? I guess if the plane flew directly into it, yes, but it was quite a bit away.