Instead of slow descent towards the airport, in a corkscrew landing the aircraft is positioned at high altitude above the airport, then descends rapidly in a spiral.
The maneuver is typically performed by pilots of military aircraft to avoid surface-to-air missiles.
Once closer to the airfield, the pilot will slowly level off and begin descent into the runway.
[3] The corkscrew landing maneuver has been reported as being performed in the Vietnam War.
[4][5] It also became the standard method of landing by airlines flying into Baghdad International Airport after a DHL cargo aircraft was struck and nearly destroyed by a surface-to-air missile during takeoff in November 2003. https://www.wkrn.com/news/what-is-a-corkscrew-landing-military-planes-taking-evasive-measures-at-kabul-airport/ This aviation-related article is a stub.