Bob CollinsThis video is gaining traction on the Internet today, purporting to show a landing that could have gone badly for this flight trying to land at O’Hare in windy conditions yesterday.
In aviation terms, it’s called a “crab” in which the pilot turns the plane into a crosswind to stay lined up with the runway despite the wind’s intention to push it away.
This plane landed sideways. Some jets have landing gear that pivot a bit to allow this, a testament to the strength of the airline fleet and a good set of tires.
In any event, about 70 flights were canceled at O’Hare yesterday because of the high winds.
Winds are expected to hit 37 mph at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport later today. Not to worry if you’re flying, though: They’ll be pretty much aligned with the runway.
Related aviation: 'ATC Zero': Inside the Chicago Center fire (AOPA).
