Sounds during descent and landing, explained

Descent and landing bring a second set of sounds. Here is what each one means, in the order you will hear them.

Descent

The engines go very quiet: The plane glides down with the engines near idle. That is how descents are flown, efficiently and smoothly.
A rumbling vibration: Panels on top of the wings (speed brakes) raised to slow down or descend faster. The rumble stops when they fold back.
Ears popping: Cabin pressure slowly returning to ground level. Swallowing or yawning helps.

Whirring and gentle dips: The flaps coming out again in stages to fly slowly and safely for landing.
A loud thump and a roar of wind: The landing gear coming down and locking, usually a few minutes before landing. The wind noise is air flowing around the wheels.
Engines rising and falling: Pilots fine-tune power to hold the exact approach speed. Small, frequent changes are normal.
The engines roar and the plane climbs again: A go-around: instead of landing, the pilots climb away and come back for another approach, usually 10 to 20 minutes later. It happens when the runway is not clear yet or the wind is not ideal, and pilots practise it regularly.

A firm bump: A firm landing is often intentional, especially on wet runways: it puts the wheels firmly on the ground.
A loud roar right after landing: Reverse thrust and the wing panels helping the plane slow down, together with the brakes. You feel pushed forward in your seat.
A short barking or buzzing sound: On Airbus A320-family planes, a hydraulic pump makes this sound, often while taxiing after landing. It is a normal part of how the hydraulics work.