A Batik Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 157 passengers and six crew members narrowly avoided a crash during landing at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on June 27, after being struck by a violent crosswind amid heavy rain.
The terrifying moment was captured on video and has since gone viral, showing the aircraft tilting sharply to the right and swaying from side to side as it struggled to touch down.
According to aviation authorities, the pilot regained control just in time, aligning the aircraft with the runway and bringing it safely to a stop. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation praised the flight crew’s swift action. “The pilots followed the correct procedures under crosswind conditions,” said DGCA head Novie Riyanto, adding that a full investigation is underway.
The incident comes just two weeks after a deadly Air India Boeing 787 crash, which claimed over 240 lives, raising further scrutiny of Boeing aircraft safety.
A possible tragedy was averted thanks to skilled piloting, but recent events continue to put Boeing’s aircraft performance under the spotlight.