Dust in the wind-shield?
Footage captured the dramatic moment that passengers screamed in panic as their plane was “swallowed” by a ferocious storm.
In the nail-biting clip, passengers can be seen gripping their seats and crying out in terror as the aircraft rocks violently due to the severe turbulence.
“It felt like we were caught inside a cyclone,” one shaken fly-witness told Jam Press while recalling the gritty incident, which occurred aboard a Fly Jinnah flight from Karachi to Lahore in Pakistan on Saturday, May 24.
The aircraft was nearing the runway at Allama Iqbal International Airport when it encountered powerful winds and a severe sandstorm.
Due to the strong winds and poor visibility, the pilot was forced to abort the landing and head back to Karachi in compliance with air traffic control.
One passenger described the harrowing 10 to 12 minutes they were caught in the sandstorm as the “scariest” moment of their life.
“At first, everything seemed normal,” the flyer recalled to Jam Press. “But as soon as we touched the ground, the plane was swallowed by a sandstorm. Within seconds, we were airborne again.
“The plane was being thrown around violently; visibility was gone.”
This wasn’t the only flight impacted by severe weather in the region.
In Lahore, at least 22 flights were delayed, diverted or forced to return to their point of departure due to inclement conditions.
Sandstorms occur when particles of dust are lifted to great heights by strong and turbulent winds, according to Cloud Atlas. They can cause health issues ranging from respiratory problems to cardiovascular diseases and can also disrupt transportation
These walls of sand are particularly prevalent in desert regions like the Middle East.
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