In the wake of Storm Isha, air travel across Europe was thrown into disarray, leaving thousands of passengers stranded far from their intended destinations, some even in different countries. The storm unleashed powerful winds, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph, severely impacting flight operations, particularly in Ireland and the UK.
As per a CNN report, Dublin Airport, a major hub for Ryanair, was among the hardest hit, with the airline cancelling a staggering 166 flights.The airport also witnessed 36 diversions and 34 instances where aircraft had to abort their landing and circle for another attempt. This turmoil led to extraordinary scenes as flights, like a Ryanair aircraft from Lanzarote to Dublin, had to divert to locations as far as Bordeaux, France, without even attempting to land in Dublin.
The chaos wasn’t confined to Dublin. A flight from Manchester to Dublin, FR555, ended up in Paris Beauvais after multiple attempts to land, turning a usual half-hour journey into a two-and-a-half-hour ordeal.
“We attempted [to land] again and then the pilot made an announcement that Dublin was too windy and that Manchester was full, so we were going to the East Midlands. About 20 minutes later, we were updated to say the UK airports were not an option and that they had made the decision to go to Paris Beauvais,” a passenger told the Irish Mirror.
Similarly, another flight between the same cities spent over three hours in the air, circling above various cities before finally landing in Liverpool, a mere 31 miles from its origin.
The disruption extended to other parts of the UK and Ireland as well. Cork Airport saw 13 cancellations, while UK airports experienced over 100 aborted landings. The situation was so severe that Steve Fox, head of network operations for NATS, highlighted the extraordinary challenges faced by flight crews due to the storm’s fierce winds, wind shear, and turbulence.
Edinburgh Airport spokesperson described the day’s operations as “challenging,” with 44 cancellations and eight diversions. Manchester and London’s Gatwick Airport also faced significant disruptions, with numerous cancellations and diversions.
The aftermath of the storm was evident on Monday morning, with aircraft scattered across Europe, leading to further cancellations and delays. Despite the havoc, the resilience and skill of the flight crews and air traffic controllers were evident, as they navigated through the storm’s challenges, ensuring passenger safety remained the top priority.
As the storm’s impact on air travel became clear, aviation enthusiasts and streamers captured the dramatic scenes, with footage of challenging landings and aborted approaches circulating widely, highlighting the skill and precision required in such extreme weather conditions.
As per a CNN report, Dublin Airport, a major hub for Ryanair, was among the hardest hit, with the airline cancelling a staggering 166 flights.The airport also witnessed 36 diversions and 34 instances where aircraft had to abort their landing and circle for another attempt. This turmoil led to extraordinary scenes as flights, like a Ryanair aircraft from Lanzarote to Dublin, had to divert to locations as far as Bordeaux, France, without even attempting to land in Dublin.
The chaos wasn’t confined to Dublin. A flight from Manchester to Dublin, FR555, ended up in Paris Beauvais after multiple attempts to land, turning a usual half-hour journey into a two-and-a-half-hour ordeal.
“We attempted [to land] again and then the pilot made an announcement that Dublin was too windy and that Manchester was full, so we were going to the East Midlands. About 20 minutes later, we were updated to say the UK airports were not an option and that they had made the decision to go to Paris Beauvais,” a passenger told the Irish Mirror.
Similarly, another flight between the same cities spent over three hours in the air, circling above various cities before finally landing in Liverpool, a mere 31 miles from its origin.
The disruption extended to other parts of the UK and Ireland as well. Cork Airport saw 13 cancellations, while UK airports experienced over 100 aborted landings. The situation was so severe that Steve Fox, head of network operations for NATS, highlighted the extraordinary challenges faced by flight crews due to the storm’s fierce winds, wind shear, and turbulence.
Edinburgh Airport spokesperson described the day’s operations as “challenging,” with 44 cancellations and eight diversions. Manchester and London’s Gatwick Airport also faced significant disruptions, with numerous cancellations and diversions.
The aftermath of the storm was evident on Monday morning, with aircraft scattered across Europe, leading to further cancellations and delays. Despite the havoc, the resilience and skill of the flight crews and air traffic controllers were evident, as they navigated through the storm’s challenges, ensuring passenger safety remained the top priority.
As the storm’s impact on air travel became clear, aviation enthusiasts and streamers captured the dramatic scenes, with footage of challenging landings and aborted approaches circulating widely, highlighting the skill and precision required in such extreme weather conditions.
