An aircraft attempting to land at Jeju International Airport performed a go-around after strong winds made it unsafe to touch down [1].
The incident has left numerous travelers stranded on Jeju Island as the airport faced a wave of flight cancellations and delays. Because the island relies heavily on air travel for connectivity to the mainland, these disruptions create immediate logistical bottlenecks for thousands of passengers.
Wind speeds at the airport were recorded at over 20 meters per second during the incident [1]. The aircraft, which had begun its descent, was forced to climb back into the sky to avoid a dangerous landing in the gusty conditions [1].
Passengers described a terrifying experience during the aborted landing. Kim Jung-hee, a resident of Seogwipo, said, "I really thought I was going to die. I was so anxious and the plane shook a lot, so it was really difficult."
Following the go-around, the weather conditions continued to hinder operations. Many passengers reported that there were no available flights to major cities like Seoul or Gwangju for several days [2].
Kim Seok-woo, who was attempting to travel to Gwangju, said, "I don't care if it is Gwangju or Seoul, I just want to take off, but there are no flights. I heard there are some starting tomorrow (Monday) or at least the day after (Tuesday), so I am currently stranded."
Airport officials and airlines have worked to manage the backlog of passengers, though the severity of the wind gusts necessitated the prioritization of safety over schedule adherence [1].
“"I really thought I was going to die."”
This event highlights the vulnerability of Jeju International Airport to extreme weather, as the island's geography often exposes it to high-velocity wind gusts. When safety protocols force a go-around and subsequent cancellations, the lack of alternative transport options quickly turns a weather event into a regional travel crisis, stressing the limited capacity of the island's aviation infrastructure.
