Jet2 landing scare as Storm Boelo disrupts UK flights

A Jet2 aircraft veered off the runway at Birmingham Airport on October 25 due to strong winds from Storm Boelo, causing landing difficulties, diversions, and cancellations at UK airports. The Boeing 737-800 bound for Venetia to Birmingham landed on grass beside the runway, later returning to the paved surface. This incident followed others where pilots had to abandon landing approaches or divert, including an Air France flight at Edinburgh, an easyJet flight from Bristol to Newcastle, and a Ryanair flight from Tirana to Brussels.

The airport, situated 208 meters above sea level, is particularly vulnerable to strong winds. Passengers were advised to verify their flight status before traveling. Several disrupted services included flights from Dublin, London Stansted, Krakow, and Gdansk, as well as from Belfast City, with some cancellations. Storm Boelo brought gusts of 60 to 70mph, with gusts exceeding 80mph in exposed coastal areas, making it challenging for pilots to maintain control of the aircraft.