Passengers Panic as Plane Aborts Two Landings at Colombian Mountain Airport

Passengers aboard an Avianca commercial flight experienced tense moments after the aircraft aborted two landing attempts at a challenging mountain airport in the remote Colombian city of Pasto. The incident reportedly left several travelers panicked, with some crying and others falling ill during the repeated maneuvers.

According to reports, Avianca Flight AV9401 first attempted to land at the high-altitude airport, located nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, before suddenly pulling up moments before touchdown. During the second approach, the aircraft again descended low toward the runway before pilots initiated another go-around due to unsafe landing conditions.

The repeated aborted landings triggered fear inside the cabin, with passengers describing the experience as “terrifying.” Some travelers reportedly said the flight crew provided limited explanation during the incident, adding to the anxiety onboard as the aircraft circled the mountainous region.

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Mountain airports are considered among the most difficult operating environments for pilots because of steep approaches, unpredictable winds, and limited room for error. Aviation experts noted that go-arounds are standard safety procedures used when landing conditions do not meet operational requirements. Airlines typically assign specially trained pilots for routes involving difficult terrain and high-elevation airports.

An Avianca spokesperson later confirmed that weather conditions around the airport created operational challenges during the landing attempts. The airline stressed that the pilots followed established safety protocols by aborting the approaches when conditions were deemed unsafe.

“When conditions are not safe, pilots must abort the maneuver and try again or divert. It is a completely normal part of aerial safety protocols. Safety is our priority,” the airline said in a statement. The flight was later reported to have landed safely or diverted successfully, though the airline did not immediately disclose additional operational details.

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