Storm Eunice: Qatar Airways plane makes third landing attempt
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Multiple airports in Britain have had cause to divert planes away due to strong winds making landings dangerous. Earlier in the day, a Qatar Airways A380 pilot wowed plane-spotters at London Heathrow by landing the majestic beast after the third attempt in heavy winds.
For Ryanair passengers travelling from Fuerteventura in Spain to Manchester, there was no such luck in hearing the landing gear touch down at their destination.
Instead, the plane was diverted to Bordeaux in France.
Manchester Airport reported dozens of cancelled flights – 46 in total both outbound and inbound – but said the bulk was “preemptive”.
Many cancellations were also thought to be due to adverse weather at a flight’s point of origin, rather than conditions in Manchester.
A spokesman said the airport was operating as normal, although the ongoing situation would be monitored.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium said at least 436 flights due to take off or land at UK airports were cancelled on Friday.
Analysts at the company said Heathrow suffered the worst flight disruption, with a fifth of all flights cancelled.
That was followed by London City and Manchester which saw 16 percent and 10 percent of flights cancelled respectively.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “Manchester Airport continues to operate as normal, and we will monitor the situation throughout the afternoon and evening.
“A number of airlines have preemptively cancelled or rearranged their flights today for a variety of reasons.
“As always, we advise passengers to stay in contact with their airline for the most up-to-date status of their flight.
“We are also strongly encouraging passengers to allow extra time for their journey to the airport today, and throughout the weekend, given the likelihood of ongoing disruption, including on-road and rail networks.”
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Ryanair was not the only airline struggling with adverse weather conditions on Friday.
Passengers on EasyJet flight EJU8014 from Bordeaux to Gatwick endured two aborted landings before the plane was put in a holding pattern over the south coast and then forced to return to the French city.
It touched down back at its starting point more than three hours after it departed.
British Airways flight BA296 from the US city of Chicago was due to land at Heathrow but was diverted to Geneva, Switzerland.
It was not just UK flights feeling the brunt of the storm.
Dutch authorities issued a red weather warning and hundreds of flights were cancelled, while trains were halted on Friday afternoon.
WERE YOU A PASSENGER ON THE RYANAIR FLIGHT DIVERTED TO BORDEAUX? HAVE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS BEEN AFFECTED BY STORM EUNICE? WERE YOU ON A PLANCE FORCED TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BY CLICKING HERE – EVERY VOICE MATTERS!
Belgian authorities appealed to citizens to only venture out in an emergency, while in the northern French province of Brittany, four-metre high waves were reported and rail travel was curtailed.
In Germany, where the storm has been named Zeynep by meteorologists, it is expected to reach speeds of up to 160 kilometres (100 miles) per hour and to last into the early hours of Saturday morning.
In addition, a thunderstorm is expected to develop within the storm, meteorologists said.
Ryanair has been contacted by Express.co.uk for comment.
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