Turkish Airlines Flight Diverted After Turbulence and Failed Landings

Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tunis experienced a terrifying ordeal on Thursday when severe turbulence forced the pilot to abort three landing attempts before diverting the aircraft to an alternate airport. The incident occurred as flight TK 661, also identified as THY663, approached TunisCarthage International Airport amid stormy weather. Video footage shared by passenger Marina Maiskaya shows the cabin shaking violently, with passengers screaming and some repeatedly shouting, "We will die." Maiskaya described the descent as absolutely terrifying, stating she had never feared for her life in such a way. According to her account, the pilot attempted to land at TunisCarthage three times while flying through the storm. "We were shaken violently each time, and on the third attempt, we actually started to plummet," she wrote. Flight tracking data indicates the Airbus A321 departed Istanbul at 3:40 p.m. local time and began its approach to Tunis approximately two hours and twenty minutes later.