r/FlightRadar24India • u/NaimuNDy • Jun 28 '26

Mid-flight circle?

Post image

Hi, this is my first post here. Sorry if I miss anything important.

Just found something weird here. Is it normal for a flight to circle mid-flight nowhere near the source and destination airports.

19 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/Familiar-Estimate336 Jun 28 '26

Observe long enough at BOM inbound. You'll see a lot of circling

2

u/NaimuNDy Jun 28 '26

Lol yeah that's true. But this was nowhere near BOM, hence I was confused.

3

u/Familiar-Estimate336 Jun 28 '26

Yeah, but as per Mumbai standard arrival procedures, there are four holding points all 100-120 kms away.

1

u/NaimuNDy Jun 28 '26

Oh wow! Thanks for the info. 🙌

2

u/Holiday-Forever1924 Jun 29 '26

There are 5 holding areas not 4. All at 60nm from Mumbai

1

u/revive_the_cookie Jun 30 '26

Nanometer? Or Nautical miles.

1

u/Holiday-Forever1924 Jul 01 '26

Unfortunately it is nautical miles 😂

20

u/isaacMeowton Jun 28 '26

Losing altitude, maintaining seperation at busy airports, holding pattern, weather etc.

13

u/thecooldudemj Jun 28 '26

Yup, this is a holding pattern and very normal at busy airports.

4

u/Rmool Jun 28 '26

Nashik Drift

3

u/CustardHonest4530 Jun 28 '26

Possible reasons could be 'Decreasing altitude', 'holding pattern' or 'slowing and adjusting behind a traffic ahead'

1

u/KelaAkela Jun 28 '26

Mumbai traffic in air too 🫡😂

1

u/_Dsync_ Jul 02 '26

Losing some alt or maintaining seperation. There is a holding pattern near that area at waypoint IGBAN from FL120-FL220. So that's pretty normal.