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Wing strike : Lufthansa Airbus A320 nearly crashed during crosswind approach

An Airbus A-320 operated by the German airline Lufthansa almost crashed March 1st, 2008, in Hambourg, Germany. The plane, which was travelling from Munich with 131 passengers aboard, faced strong crosswinds upon landing in Hamburg. In this situation, the plane has to perform a crab approach, and the aircraft is kicked straight with the rudder just before touchdown. Actions on the sidestick are also necessary to avoid a dangerous roll. The pilot has not compensated enough the roll, and the aircraft's left wing tip touched the ground. The plane aborted the approach before landing safely on the second attempt. It later underwent repairs. Photos here.

Comments

attinder
Batala (India)
amazing....i salute to capt of this plane........................nice work...........................after watch this video am proud on every pilot in the world. but am not satisfied with those person who said mentel to the capt of this plane
24th September, 2011
robert
Nairn (Scotlannd)
mental!
19th August, 2011
nburhan
Ramallah (Palestine)
Actually this camera is a horror film. But who eased by the horror of the scene,intelligence and skill of the pilots.
9th October, 2010
Faisal
Muscat (Oman)
Well done Captain!! The pilot really is hero,Thanks to Allah than to the pilot who saved 131 lives Great piece of fly Keep it up....
11th July, 2010
Herm
Hamburg (Germany)
The a/c approached the runway with a considerable crab angle.It appeared that upon touchdown the pilot agressively pushed in the left rudder to align the a/c with the runway, however was totally unaware of the aeordynamic consequences.
24th April, 2010
Lucky
Well done Captain. U saved 131 lives under that compelling situation.
1st March, 2010
Mike
Brussels (Belgium.)
Crosswind was only just within the planes limitation, and the gust threw it over. Complication may have been the computer switching modes to ground mode when one wheel touched the ground, reducing available rudder throw.Idiot? No.
1st November, 2009
AK Vyas
Bangalore (India)
Thank God! All is well that ends well.. But on second thought....Was it worth the risk to attempt a landing in such conditions .. not once but twice?
7th April, 2009
Adel
Manama (Bahrain)
Woow - the pilot really saved the passengers, despite he was the one to scare them. But he managed it. Im wondering how the people were on board.
28th January, 2009
tea lover
Armagh (N. Ireland)
well done brill
26th January, 2009
Saibudeen
Kottaiyadiputhoor (India)
This is really a dangerous situation.Allah only save us.
4th January, 2009
Freddie
Nashville (Usa)
Having had experience with crosswinds landing, I can say that the crew os this fligjt did a superb job staying in control of the airplane.
25th September, 2008
Mike
Brussels (Belgium)
One person is suggesting the pilot was an idiot, but this is simply not true. The conditions were within the capability of both aircraft and crew, but the massive gust that hit at the crucial moment was simply not expected.
16th August, 2008
Jason
Ottawa (Canada)
I think that the pilots of that aircraft are heros if it were not for there skill the flight would have ended is disaster
14th July, 2008
PAUL
Woking (U.k.)
Fantastic piece of flying, skill and expertise shown here and I would trust a pilot who wouldn't put my life where he wouldn't put his own..... Bravo Sir !
12th July, 2008
khaled
Cairo (Egypt)
The problem is that the pilot made i second attempt in that kind of crosswind which means one of two, either he had a technical problem and have to land at that airport , or he is very risky pilot and they have to stop him flying
12th June, 2008
Doug Rodrigues
Sparks (nevada) (Usa)
It would appear that the pilot was attempting to land in a crosswind that exceeded the designed ability of his aircraft to accomplish? Isn't there another runway on this airport that the pilot could have used?
20th May, 2008
Lukas
Erfurt (Germany)
On this days, the weather was very, very stormy, although the pilot could land the aircraft. The pilot is a HERO!!!
27th April, 2008
Shane
Carlow
The pilot is a hero because if he hadn't pulled up off the run way the wing would of snapped off causing the aircraft to roll over
10th April, 2008
andy c
Dublin (Ireland)
why would a captain of an aircraft put peoples lives at risk like this, hes not a hero hes an idiot.
2nd April, 2008
Bruce
Richmond (Canada)
If you saw worse, it was either animated, or, "written off".
18th March, 2008
bobo
Newcastle (Nsw)
I saw this video on youtube it would be scarey to be in this plane but i have seen worse.
14th March, 2008