The precarious nature of aviation was on full display this weekend as a plane lands during Storm Dave chaos at Dublin Airport, fighting severe crosswinds in a maneuver that left onlookers and aviation enthusiasts praising the skill of the flight crew. Footage captured by the airport shows the aircraft approaching the runway at a sharp angle—a technique known as “crabbing”—to compensate for powerful gusts that threatened to push the plane off course.
The dramatic landing is a visual representation of a wider operational struggle. Dublin Airport has faced a weekend of significant turbulence, both literal and metaphorical, as Storm Dave swept across the region. The weather system has forced pilots into a series of high-stress decisions, resulting in dozens of aborted landings and a ripple effect of delays that have left thousands of passengers in limbo.
Plane lands at Dublin Airport after approaching sideways during Storm Dave.(Image: Dublin Airport X)
Operational Strain and Flight Disruptions
The scale of the disruption became clear in a passenger update issued by the airport at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday. A spokesperson for the airport confirmed that the strong winds associated with the storm continued to hamper flight operations well into the evening. The numbers highlight a day of intense volatility for air traffic control and flight crews.
According to the airport’s data, 17 flights were cancelled by airlines on Saturday alone. More telling, however, are the numbers regarding landing attempts. The airport recorded 53 “go-arounds”—a safety procedure where a pilot aborts a landing attempt and climbs back into the air to re-attempt the approach—and 13 diversions to other airports when landing at Dublin became too hazardous.
| Metric | Count/Value |
|---|---|
| Flight Cancellations | 17 |
| Go-Arounds | 53 |
| Flight Diversions | 13 |
| Peak Wind Gusts | 44 knots |
For those unfamiliar with aviation terminology, a go-around is not a failure but a critical safety tool. When wind shear or sudden gusts make a stable approach impossible, pilots execute a go-around to ensure the aircraft does not touch down in an unsafe configuration. While essential for safety, these maneuvers increase fuel consumption and create scheduling bottlenecks, contributing to the broader chaos seen throughout the weekend.
The Meteorology of the Storm
The instability was driven by gusts reaching up to 44 knots—approximately 50 mph—which created challenging conditions for aircraft attempting to align with the runway. The Met Office maintained multiple yellow and amber weather warnings for wind, covering mainland Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of northern England and North Wales from Saturday evening into Sunday.
Beyond the airport runways, the storm’s impact was felt along the coastlines, where large waves and gusts of up to 90 mph were forecast for exposed areas. Meteorologists noted that Storm Dave would hit its peak on Saturday evening before gradually weakening as it moved toward the North Sea on Sunday.
The airport spokesperson indicated that a shift in wind direction to the west later Saturday evening was expected to assist flight operations, with conditions predicted to ease further after 11 p.m.
What This Means for Travelers
While the winds may subside, the logistical aftermath of a storm often lasts longer than the weather itself. The displacement of aircraft and crews—where a plane diverted to another city is no longer available for its next scheduled leg—means that disruption is likely to persist into the following day.
Passengers have been advised to avoid traveling to the airport without first confirming their flight status. The airport’s guidance remains clear: those scheduled to fly on Saturday night or Sunday morning should contact their airlines directly for the most accurate updates.
The efficiency of Dublin Airport‘s air traffic control and the precision of the pilots have been central to preventing more severe incidents during this window of volatility. The ability to manage over 50 go-arounds in a single day without incident speaks to the rigorous safety protocols governing modern aviation.
As the system begins to recover, the primary focus for airlines will be the repositioning of aircraft and crews to normalize the schedule. The next critical checkpoint for travelers will be the Sunday evening flight manifests, which will determine if the backlog of displaced passengers can be cleared before the start of the work week.
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