Storm Eleanor: Plane at London City airport unable to land due to gale-force winds

Flooding and strong winds are causing hazardous travel conditions across northern Europe

London City Airport (Getty)

The latest named storm to batter the UK has caused difficulties for pilots and drama for passengers as planes have struggled to land in high winds.

Storm Eleanor has pounded the UK with hurricane force winds in some areas, bringing flooding and powercuts to thousands of homes.

Winds of over 100mph were recorded in the Pennines overnight, and speeds reached 90mph in Northern Ireland, the Met Office said.

One passenger on a flight from Edinburgh to London City airport filmed the uneasy moment the aircraft he was travelling on approached the runway in London.

The video shows the plane rocking from side to side as it makes its approach, but just before touchdown the plane lifts up again.

“Woah-hoho”, passenger Graham Kirk can be heard saying as the aircraft ascends.

On Twitter he wrote: “Each flight today comes with a free rollercoaster ride. Very sporting go-around on today’s BA8705 from EDI. Someone buy that captain a beer!”

The Thames Barrier, visible in the video, was closed to protect London from the surges brought by the low pressure.

Some flights due to arrive at Heathrow, from Dublin, Amsterdam and Brussels have been cancelled. Check the airport’s website for information.

Elsewhere, ferries struggled to dock in choppy waters on the Mersey in Liverpool, a lorry overturned on the M6 at junction 20, trees over 200-years-old were brought down in Northern Ireland, and the roof was torn off a line of shops in Birmingham.

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