Imagine settling into your flight, only to find out you've landed at the wrong airport! That's precisely what happened to passengers aboard AirAsia flight D7 506, sparking outrage and panic after the plane touched down at Gimpo International Airport instead of its intended destination, Incheon Airport. This incident, which occurred on August 14, has left many passengers feeling bewildered and frustrated.

The flight, which took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, was supposed to reach Incheon by 7:50 PM (6:50 PM Singapore time) on August 13. Instead, it landed at Gimpo, a full 35 kilometers away, at 8:08 PM. To make matters worse, the aircraft had been circling above the airport before landing, leaving everyone on board in a state of confusion.

Passengers described the moment of realization as one filled with panic. Ms. Lee Mi-hyun, a mother returning from a family trip, recounted how initially, the captain announced their arrival at Incheon. But as travelers started to rise from their seats, some noticed the signs outside the window that indicated they were, in fact, at Gimpo. 'Everyone panicked. It seemed the cabin crew didn’t know we had landed at Gimpo until passengers told them,' she shared, painting a vivid picture of the chaos.

Further adding to the anxiety, one crew member even mentioned needing to call her parents who were waiting for her at Incheon, highlighting the confusion that reigned in the cabin. So what caused this unexpected detour? According to the Korea Airports Corporation, the flight diverted due to turbulence over Incheon, which led to an unscheduled stop at Gimpo for refueling.

Passengers like Ms. Lee expressed dissatisfaction with how the crew managed the situation during the two-hour layover at Gimpo before finally departing for Incheon at 10:17 PM. 'They appeared just as confused as the passengers. No water was offered, and there was almost no food left on board, leaving passengers with children upset. Some even said they would rather get off at Gimpo before the plane departed for Incheon,' she explained.

Once en route again, the captain and crew offered apologies through the public announcement system, and they eventually landed at Incheon at 10:59 PM. However, many passengers were left feeling frustrated, criticizing the airline for failing to provide clear explanations or reassurance during the ordeal. One passenger, identified only as Ryu, articulated a common sentiment: 'During the two hours before we departed for Incheon, there was no clear explanation of what caused the landing error or any effort to reassure passengers.'

As of now, AirAsia has not commented on this troubling incident, leaving many questions unanswered.