In a heart-stopping incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a narrow escape when her aircraft was caught in a severe storm over Kolkata. Returning from Andal, the CM’s plane was forced to circle over the Dum Dum airport for nearly an hour and a half as heavy rain and turbulent winds made landing impossible. The tense moments ended only when the pilot managed a skillful emergency landing amidst deteriorating weather conditions.

Stepping out of the aircraft, a visibly shaken yet grateful Mamata Banerjee praised the pilot’s expertise. “The pilot was very good; he saved our lives. We were hovering in the storm for one and a half hours. It was a terrifying experience,” she told reporters. The Chief Minister added that the visibility was near zero, and the aircraft faced significant turbulence, causing panic among the passengers on board.

Aviation sources suggest that the delay in landing was due to the sudden onset of a Nor’wester (Kal Baisakhi) storm, which is common in Bengal during this season. While the Air Traffic Control (ATC) monitored the situation closely, it was the pilot’s calm demeanor that prevented a potential disaster. Following the safe landing, TMC leaders expressed their relief, and the Chief Minister personally thanked the flight crew for their heroic efforts in navigating through the dangerous weather cell.