The Desperate Fight for Survival: The True Story of Jet Airways Flight 555

TLDRJet Airways Flight 555 faces multiple failed landing attempts due to terrible weather, lack of instrument landing system (ILS), and critically low fuel.

Key insights

🌧️Jet Airways Flight 555 was unable to land due to terrible weather conditions.

🛬The pilots attempted multiple landings, but the lack of an instrument landing system (ILS) made it impossible to spot the runway.

The plane was critically low on fuel, with only 10 minutes left before running out.

🔁The pilots decided to divert to Trivandrum as an alternate, but the weather conditions there were also unfavorable.

⚠️The crew executed multiple go-arounds, putting the lives of the passengers at risk.

Q&A

Why couldn't the pilots land the plane?

The pilots were unable to land due to the combination of terrible weather conditions, the lack of an instrument landing system (ILS), and poor visibility.

How close were they to running out of fuel?

The plane had only 10 minutes of fuel left before running out, putting the crew and passengers in a dangerous situation.

Why did they decide to divert to Trivandrum?

The pilots chose to divert to Trivandrum as an alternate airport, hoping for better weather conditions. However, the weather there was also unfavorable.

What is an instrument landing system (ILS)?

An instrument landing system (ILS) is a ground-based navigation aid that provides guidance to pilots for landing, especially in low visibility conditions. Its absence at the airports made it difficult for the pilots to spot the runway.

What is a go-around?

A go-around is a procedure in which the pilot aborts the landing attempt and initiates a climb to perform another approach. The crew executed multiple go-arounds due to the inability to land safely.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Jet Airways Flight 555 faces multiple failed landing attempts due to terrible weather, lack of instrument landing system (ILS), and critically low fuel.

08:31The pilots attempted multiple landings but couldn't spot the runway due to poor visibility and the lack of an instrument landing system (ILS).

11:04The crew decides to divert to Trivandrum as an alternate, but the weather there is also unfavorable.

12:58The crew executes a go-around for the third time after not being able to land at Trivandrum either.

15:34The crew attempts a fourth landing at Cochin but is once again unable to spot the runway, leading to another go-around.