Strong emotions still travel on the Bari-Cagliari route. But this time it is panic: this is what the passengers of the Ryanair flight expected at Elmas airport at 16.40 felt. However, with the descent phase already underway, a communication arrived from the pilots' cabin: in English, and not everyone understood it.
The aircraft had a suspected flap problem and emergency procedures were activated. The hostesses on board, with concern on their faces, began to illustrate how to use the masks and how to go out.
Meanwhile, worried protests arose from the seats , because almost no one was clear what was happening. Some elderly women cried in fear . The plane circled as the pilot tried to figure out if the problem detected by the internal systems was real.
The tension was palpable, even among the crew, and lasted a long time. Other incoming flights were delayed to have the landing area completely cleared: after long minutes, more than half an hour late, here was the runway approaching and a higher than usual speed landing.
The braking phase, witnesses say, was very long. Maybe the flap didn't work as it should. But in the end everything worked out well. Out of panic.
Henry Fresu
