THIS is the moment terrified passengers sobbed, screamed and vomited as their plane aborted two landings at a notorious mountain airport.
Shocking footage showed clinging to their seats and praying aloud while their aircraft is battered by blizzards and the pilot frantically tries to touch down.
One woman is sobbing as the plane tries and fails to land in the poor weather conditions Credit: Jam Press
Another man is praying aloud in his seat as the plane is buffeted by winds Credit: Jam Press
The chaos unfolded on Avianca airline’s flight AV9401 from Bogotá to Pasto in on Tuesday.
Crew members urged passengers to “breathe deeply” as the plane swerved through thick fogs and strong winds.
Pasto’s Antonio Nariño Airport in the Andes mountains is a famously difficult touch down as pilots must complete daring manoeuvres to land.
The mountain airport is also often plagued by stormy conditions and low visibility.
The plane circled the peak and tried to land twice – but both attempts were thwarted by the treacherous conditions.
Meanwhile passengers were crying and throwing up in sick bags.
The plane was eventually forced to turn back and return to Bogotá.
The flight set off again later that day and finally managed to land successfully in Pasto at 2:37pm local time.
Thick clouds hid the airport from view and forced the pilot to turn the plane around Credit: Jam Press
One man appeared to be comforting a a terrified passenger on the flight from hell Credit: Jam Press
Airline Avianca said: “When conditions are not safe, pilots must abort the manoeuvre and try again or divert.
“It is a completely normal part of aerial safety protocols.”
“Safety is our priority,” the carrier added.
It comes as one EasyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger left their phone charging on a powerbank in their luggage.
The 180 fliers onboard were when the captain said: “There’s something we shouldn’t have in the hold.”
And they knew no more details about the problem until after the flight from Hurghada, Egypt, to made an emergency landing in last week.
Then word got round that a woman told a stewardess about her powerbank — and the flight was diverted due to fire risks.
Paul Casterton, 57, was travelling with partner Laura Bartlett, 61, and said: “No one knew what to think.
“Suddenly the plane changed direction and made a descent. It was hard not to fear the worst.
“It was stressful until we landed.
“There was almost a sense of relief when the woman confessed.
“Thank goodness it wasn’t a bomb in the hold. Word spread as to the true reason we had been diverted. It was quite an ordeal, but mostly relief that everyone was OK.”



