Panic broke out in the cabin of a plane in Chile, after a flight was forced to return to Santiago due to powerful winds. Flight SKY 161 had taken off from the capital heading to the Biobío region. As it approached Concepción airport, the severe weather conditions made a safe landing impossible.
Chile: Passengers film the moment 107 km/h winds battered the plane
Passengers captured footage on their mobile phones showing violent turbulence throwing the aircraft off course. The pilots, following proper safety protocols, made the decision to return to Santiago. Weather conditions in the area were extremely severe, causing dangerous disruptions to travel. According to information from Chile’s Meteorological Service, coastal areas of Biobío experienced wind gusts reaching 116 km/h. At Carriel Sur Airport, winds peaked at 107 km/h, making any landing attempt an extremely risky undertaking.
Despite the harrowing conditions, the aircraft managed to return safely with no passengers injured. The airline operating the flight, Sky Airline, is Chile’s second most popular domestic carrier. It operates on a low-cost business model and has expanded its flight network to several other Latin American countries.
Minutos de terror vivieron pasajeros del vuelo Sky Santiago Concepción de esta mañana, ya que debido a las fuertes ráfagas de viento (107 km/h, medidos) no pudo aterrizar. Lo intentó dos veces hasta que desistió y tuvo que retornar a Santiago @Cooperativa pic.twitter.com/LmOOZCp2Tw
— Cristofer Espinoza (@CEspinozaQ) July 16, 2026
