Lightning Storm in Istanbul Air Astana

[UKK]

I was on an Air Astana flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Istanbul on Thursday evening when we flew into a lightening storm and had a terrifying thirty minutes. When we got out of it Ataturk (main airport) had closed and we flew across the city and landed at Sabiha Gocen airport. this airport refused to accept us and wanted us to fly back to Ataturk. We managed to get off the plane after an hour.

I have several questions that are really troubling me and wonder if anyone could help me.

[Duchess_Driver]

I may be stating the obvious, but if you don't ask the questions then nobody can answer them.

I would suggest you post your questions and then see who responds... !!!

Are you asking why...

... your alternate refused to accept you?
... you were diverted in the first place?
... you flew through a storm?

[UKK]

Sorry for not asking the questions but just had a long flight back.

Firstly the plane was a mid sized Ebrauer. We flew through what I learned was a lightening storm that hit North Eastern turkey without warning causing accidents, flooding and power outages.

30 mins from Istanbul, announcement of turbulence, safety belt signs went. There was a few bumps, then the plane dropped in free fall for maybe 8 or 9 seconds. This kept happening with lots of grinding and shuddering for about 30 minutes. A man panicked part way through and left his seat and cabin crew screamed at him to sit down. 3 Kuwatis recited the Islamic prayer for the dead throughout. A woman kept vomiting and was in shock. I had a window seat and the plane was covered in thick cloud or fog or something. The falling got longer and I was convinced that eas the end.

Finally we came through it high above Istanbul. I heard the captain say

Ataturk airport is closed, we are going to Sabiha Gokcen. Don't know why intercom was on or who he was talking to. The plane turned and flew at full speed straight through Sabiha Gokcen with everyone clapping. We were just above the runway bit at terrible speed. The plane braked, I saw the flaps move and we had a textbook landing. Ten minutes later the captain announced

Sabiha Gokcen will not accept us, we will refuel and fly to Ataturk

Forty five minutes later we filed off the plane. I have no more information.

1 how did we survive dozens of free falls?
2 How did we land perfectly at such speed?
3 Why did we fly so fast from a great height th Sabiha Gokcen?
4 why did Sabiha try to make us fly back?

If anyone could comment, I'd be so grateful.

[AerocatS2A]

1. Aeroplanes are made to survive turbulence, the "free falls" you experienced were probably nothing like as bad as they felt.
2. I'd suggest that you have no idea what speed you were flying at. You landed perfectly because the pilots were doing what they are paid to do. Also landings on wet runways tend to feel smoother.
3. How do you know how fast you were flying?
4. I don't know. It could be something as simple as they didn't have anywhere for you to park.

[AerocatS2A]

I heard the captain say

Ataturk airport is closed, we are going to Sabiha Gokcen. Don't know why intercom was on or who he was talking to.

The intercom was on so he could talk to you, the passengers.

[UKK]

Thanks for the replies. It all makes sense. Perhaps overreacted to what happened.

[Hotel Tango]

UKK, I don't know how often you have flown but it would seem that you are fairly new to it. What you describe is your (and your body's) perception of events based on insufficient knowledge of the facts. This is understandable as I would guess we have all gone through that at some stage of our early flying experiences. Those, like myself, who were born when airliners flew through weather (because they couldn't fly as high) more often than not are accustomed to what some refer to as air pockets and the associated sensations that come with that. It's all perfectly normal and, as said above, is not actually anywhere as bad as it may feel. I recently landed (as passenger) in gusting crosswind conditions. The aircraft was being thrown around quite a bit on the approach but our (lady) captain brought it in for a remarkably smooth landing. It all looks and feels quite dramatic but it's all perfectly normal and under control, well, almost :)

As for Sabiha not accepting you, this would most likely be that because of the high number of diversions, as well as their own traffic, in a relatively short time they simply ran out of staff and ground equipment to attend to your flight. Hence the eventual long wait before getting off your flight.

The great majority of today's flights are so smooth and uneventful that when experiencing these type of weather conditions it can seem quite alarming.

[UKK]

I am a novice in the sense that either my employer or I buy the cheapest ticket and I sit back and take no interest in what happens. On that flight on Thursday I saw the looks of horror on the Kazakh cabin crew when 10 minutes into the turbulence, a man got out of his seat and went towards the exit. When we got off the plane a Kazakh woman was taken away in an ambulance. She had been crying and carrying a sickbay and looked to be in shock.

I am glad I found this site and glad that I had overreacted and now have the utmost respect for pilots and cabin crew.

[deptrai]

if you didn't see any coffee spills on cabin ceiling it was most likely only light or moderate turbulence.

if the cabin on your flight looked like this: http://christopherteh.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/sg-airlines-turbulence.jpg

rest assured even severe turbulence, which is very rare, won't damage the airframe, and if you're securely strapped into your seat and hand luggage is stowed safely you'll also be ok

[paulc]

Paulus705,

I was in Istanbul last Thursday and witnessed the lightning storm from the hotel room - mighty impressive it was too. Many other aircraft diverting at the same time so it must have been a testing time for crews and ATC alike.