Winds Near 100 km/h Cause Chaotic Wednesday at São Paulo Airports - Folha de S.Paulo

Airports in São Paulo, especially Congonhas and Guarulhos, faced a chaotic Wednesday (10) due to strong winds caused by an extratropical cyclone, affecting more than a hundred flights. Wind gusts at Congonhas reached 96 km/h (52 knots) at noon, while Guarulhos recorded 77 km/h (42 knots).

At Congonhas, 80 arrivals and 87 departures were canceled by late afternoon, due to operational decisions by the airlines. In addition, 26 flights bound for Guarulhos were diverted to other airports, along with international flights arriving from Lisbon, Luanda, and Addis Ababa, which diverted to Galeão Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

The adverse conditions caused dozens of go-arounds and required pilots to use the "crab" technique for crosswind landings. Nine flights diverted to Viracopos, in Campinas. On one of these flights, passengers reported turbulence, dizziness, and nausea, and one passenger received immediate medical attention after landing. Curitiba airport was also affected, registering wind gusts of 90 km/h.