Turkish Airlines Flight Diverts After Three Landing Attempts as Passenger Describes Terrifying Turbulence

Marina Maiskaya was on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tunisia on Thursday, Sept. 10, when the plane “started to plummet.”mmaiskaya via Storyful

Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tunisia were left screaming and gripping their seats after severe turbulence struck during the aircraft’s descent, with one traveler claiming the plane appeared to “plummet” during a third attempt to land.

The flight had been largely uneventful until it approached Tunis-Carthage International Airport on Thursday, when stormy weather dramatically changed conditions inside the cabin.

Passenger Marina Maiskaya, who was traveling with her mother, recorded video showing the aircraft shaking as frightened passengers reacted around her.

“The flight itself was smooth, but things turned absolutely terrifying as soon as we began our descent,” Maiskaya wrote on Instagram. “I have never in my life feared for my life like that — and my mom was with me, too.”

Three attempts to land in stormy conditions

The flight diverted eventually to land 60 miles south of Tunis.mmaiskaya via Storyful

According to Maiskaya, the pilots attempted to land at Tunis-Carthage three times while dealing with the difficult weather.

Each attempt brought more turbulence.

“We were shaken violently each time, and on the third attempt, we actually started to plummet,” she recalled.

Footage from inside the cabin captured screams as passengers held onto their seats while the aircraft continued circling near the airport.

Despite the frightening experience described by passengers, the crew ultimately abandoned the attempt to land in Tunis.

Flight diverted around 60 miles south

The storm caused severe turbulence on the airplane.mmaiskaya via Storyful

The aircraft was instead diverted to Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport, approximately 60 miles south of Tunis.

It landed there safely.

Maiskaya later expressed relief that everyone had made it through the ordeal and credited the flight crew for safely handling the difficult conditions.

“We made it through safely — perhaps thanks to the Turkish Airlines pilots,” she wrote.

The incident ended without the disastrous outcome passengers had feared during the descent, but Maiskaya’s video captured just how dramatically the atmosphere inside the cabin changed once the aircraft encountered the storm.

What began as a smooth flight had turned into three unsuccessful approaches, severe turbulence and a diversion — leaving passengers with a journey they were unlikely to forget.

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