Wizz Air Budapest landing: passengers report panic after two aborted approaches

Passengers on a Wizz Air flight arriving from Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely) to Budapest on 30 April said they experienced panic, nausea and vomiting after the aircraft aborted its landing twice and touched down only on the third attempt at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, according to Hungarian reports.

Blikk wrote that the aircraft was due to land at around 3:45 PM, but twice performed a “go-around” — climbing away just before touchdown — before circling and landing successfully.

Passengers say uncertainty was the worst part

Several travellers told Blikk they did not understand what was happening during the manoeuvres and feared a technical failure, including problems with the landing gear. A witness quoted by the paper said their relative needed hours to calm down after landing, adding that “uncertainty” was the biggest issue because passengers felt they were not being told what was going on.

Index also reported that some passengers complained about delayed information from the crew, while others described the experience as frightening.

Wizz Air: windshear made the approach unsafe, but nobody was in danger

In a statement quoted by Blikk, Wizz Air said the landing was complicated by windshear — rapidly changing wind direction and strength — which made it necessary to discontinue the approach. The airline described the phenomenon, and the resulting missed approach, as common, and said its pilots followed strict procedures and training. Wizz Air added that neither passengers nor the aircraft were in danger.

Blikk also quoted pilot Zoltán Gulyás saying the captain likely responded to windshear and executed standard, safety-first go-arounds, with the third approach made to a different runway where conditions may have been less hazardous.

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Wizz Air Budapest landing: why aircraft “go around” at the last moment

A go-around is a normal part of aviation safety: if an approach becomes unstable — for example, due to strong gusts or windshear close to the runway — standard procedures typically require pilots to abandon the landing and try again rather than “salvage” it.

A Hungarian aviation educational page (Tudásmorzsák a repülésről) discussing the incident noted that low-level windshear can be highly local and may only be encountered right above the runway, sometimes just tens of metres above the ground — making a last-second correction unrealistic. Windshear is typically defined as a sudden change in wind speed and/or direction, which can rapidly alter an aircraft’s airspeed and lift close to touchdown, so the safer option is to initiate an immediate go-around rather than “salvage” the landing. The same explanation added that a second go-around can happen if the windshear repeats, and that if conditions still do not improve, crews may opt to divert to an alternate airport, with fuel planning designed to include holding and diversion reserves.

During critical phases of flight, pilots also prioritise flying the aircraft and communicating with air traffic control. Rules often referred to as the “sterile cockpit” principle limit non-essential tasks and distractions during taxi, take-off and landing.

What passengers can expect in similar situations

A sudden climb or sharp turn during a go-around can feel dramatic in the cabin, even when it is routine. Wizz Air’s statement emphasised that the correct response to hazardous wind conditions is to avoid forcing a landing and attempt a safer approach once conditions allow.

The 30 April incident is a reminder that while missed approaches can be unsettling for travellers, they are designed to reduce risk — especially in turbulent, gusty conditions — and are part of normal operational safety at busy airports like Budapest.

As we wrote yesterday, Wizz Air CEO speaks out about fuel crisis