Flight SN3728 16/4/2009

[chiffonc2000]

I was a pax on a flght MAD/BRU today
Flight prepared for landing in Brussels, and suddenly started to feel totally out of control. Was moving down, right, left, like suffering from a huge wind.
At the moment of touching down, it took off again. Pilot made an announcement of bad weather conditions, and that we were given priority landing.
Turned around in 10 minutes and landed again, at a much higher speed than normal. Took a much longer time to stop.
Weather conditions (we found out afterwards) were perfectly normal, sunset, no wind.
Anybody knows what happened ?

[MiguelBaert]

You most probably encountered a cumulonimbus cloud (short CB). There were quite a few in Belgium yesterday. CB's cause thunderstorms, turbulence, gusty, unpredictable winds,...

CB's don't necessarily produce a thunderstorm, but always the gusts and the turbulence. The most probable reason why you got down faster on the second approach was due to the fact that the pilot wanted to be on the ground faster with a CB in the vicinity. Normally, with gusty conditions a higher approach speed is also selected.

[chiffonc2000]

Thanks so much for your answer. I really got scared, and since i fly often, the last thing i need is a flight phobia !
Natalie