Weather: The Silent Villain in Plane Crashes; Why Takeoff and Landing are Riskiest

• Adverse weather significantly impacts aircraft visibility, stability, engine performance, and pilot judgment, making it a primary cause of accidents.
• Over 70% of air accidents occur during takeoff and landing, phases that constitute only 5-6% of total flight time, due to heightened vulnerability.
• Low visibility from fog, heavy rain, dust storms, and snowfall, along with sudden wind shear, destabilizes aircraft, especially during critical flight phases.
• Helicopters are more susceptible to weather-related accidents due to low-altitude flying, hilly terrain, and limited radar coverage, as seen in Kedarnath and Siachen.
• Despite advanced technology like ILS and weather radars, unpredictable weather, human judgment limitations, and air traffic pressure still contribute to accidents.

Why It Matters: Bad weather is a major factor in plane crashes, especially during takeoff and landing, despite technological advancements.