Turbulent conditions makes for a very unpleasant landing.
Your flying experience is heavily influenced by the weather. If you’re fortunate, you’ll encounter clear skies and smooth flying; if not, you might find yourself shaken and stirred in the air. Pilots often dislike turbulence even more than passengers do, as it makes flying the plane unpleasant. And an EasyJet pilot recently admitted that a stunning winter wonderland in the Alps is his least favorite destination to fly into, citing strong winds that can reach 60 mph as the primary reason.
The pilot, who was interviewed by The Independent and only gave his first name as Chris, said that Innsbruck Airport in Austria is “infamous for severe turbulence, caused by strong winds funneling through the narrow valleys between the towering mountains that surround it.”
If you’re flying into the Alps in winter, you might face some turbulence on your way. Chris revealed that between November and March is the rockiest for any airport around the Alps “as the terrain gives mountain waves.”
Planes can handle turbulence, so there’s no need to worry about safety. The experience might not be the best if you’re flying in this weather, and if you’re particularly concerned, book a seat in the front of the plane to avoid the worst of it.
Related: The World’s 13 Most Dangerous Airports
Innsbruck Isn’t the Only Scary Airport
While Innsbruck may be daunting for pilots and travelers, some airports are even more terrifying.
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Bhutan’s Paro Airport is the only international airport in the country, and very few pilots are qualified to land there. It requires special training and knowledge of the region, so only 50 pilots in the world fly you back and forth from this Asian country. The runway is flanked by mountainous peaks, and it requires technical skills to take off and land due to winds. In fact, all landings happen in the morning to avoid the worst weather conditions, and jumbo jets can’t land at all.
Closer to home, Denver has a bad reputation for its bumpy rides when you’re taking off and landing. Mountain waves can make it rough to fly over the Rockies, and it’s particularly bad during storm season.
But a lot depends on weather conditions and the terrain. Just last week, a storm canceled flights in Amsterdam, and strong winds shook planes landing in the U.K.
Pilots are trained to fly in all conditions, and they will avoid turbulence as much as possible. However, clear air turbulence is becoming more common, and scientists have noted a correlation between climate change and turbulence. Clear air turbulence is sudden and unpredictable, thus unavoidable. Planes can withstand heavy turbulence without running into trouble, but passengers and crew can get injured if they’re not buckled in.
Last month, a Scandinavian Airlines flight to Miami returned to Denmark after experiencing turbulence over Greenland. There were 254 passengers on the flight, but no serious injuries were reported. A Singapore Airlines flight this summer wasn’t as lucky. It encountered severe turbulence, and the plane shook up and down before it was diverted. Dozens were injured, and one person died of a heart attack.
However, flight attendants are most at risk due to turbulence, as they need to be up and about to serve passengers. Of 163 turbulence-related injuries reported in the U.S. from 2009 to 2022, 129 were crew members.
Related: The Most Terrifying Part of Any Flight Is About to Get Worse
