Close Call for Lufthansa

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

A really interesting almost-landing caught on tape. This could easily have ended up rolling itself into a ball just off the runway...

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...urg-storm.html

I had a landing similar to this about three weeks ago here in Toronto, in a United 737 out of O'Hare. The difference was that my pilot was either REALLY good or REALLY lucky, and none of the idiots I was flying with saw how close we came to ground looping... he just greased it down sideways and bucking until the last second and I swear made a perfect three-pointer! I was awed. Most of these airborne bus drivers wouldn't know a three-pointer if it bit them on the bum, much less in a high, gusting cross-wind... I reckon that some on this Lufthansa flight had to change their drawers after THAT one!

[Keith Webb]

You can almost hear them shout "TOGA!"

Looks like a standard cross-wind landing which was made more dangerous by the gusty nature of the wind.

Reminds me of this little clip: Cross-wind landings

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

A really interesting almost-landing caught on tape. This could easily have ended up rolling itself into a ball just off the runway...

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...urg-storm.html

Yes, made the BBC national TV news, good job modern fanjets spool up fast, a few years ago and you wouldn't have the option of an immediate go-round.

You haven't mentioned it, but as reported here and can be seen if you look closely, the port wing does meet the tarmac; it could so easily have been a re-enactment of Sioux City.

You could also argue its pilot error for attempting the landing in those conditions, but the full, formal, investigation report will be the arbiter.

I would agree though that the likelyhood for a supply of unsoiled undergarments would be entirely possible.

R.