A Ryanair Flight's Astonishing Abort in Tenerife
Unsettling episode as Ryanair passenger plane swerves violently mid-landing and swiftly aborts during squall in Tenerife
A passenger jet's nerve-wracking landing attempt at Tenerife South Airport was aborted mid-touchdown, a footage from the control tower reveals.
The video, reportedly recorded last Thursday, displays the plane unsteadily swaying as it tried to land amidst a storm.
The cockpit was forced to abandon the final approach due to a 'wind shear-related glitch'. swiftly executing an apparent 'go-around' maneuver, sending the plane soaring back into the sky instead of touching the runway.
A go-around maneuver is initiated when conditions impede safe landing[1].
Weather adversities affected airports across the Canary Islands, including Tenerife South and Gran Canaria, on that day. Numerous go-arounds were noted due to strong tailwinds, contradicting runway conditions, and wind shears[1].
Wind shear, culprits for the pilot's aborted landing, entails a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. Such events are commonly initiated by intense, yet brief storm bursts[1].
The footage from Tenerife South Airport captures the perilous dynamics of wind shear from the control tower.
Air traffic controllers shared the footage online, commenting, 'This is how a shear-related glitch looks from the Tenerife South control tower.'
The controllers further explained the process, stating that when a wind shear occurs, the crew will inform them they are 'executing a go-around'.
'There's a published missed approach maneuver, so, in principle, we know what they're going to do. And if we need to provide alternative instructions, we offer those too.' the controllers clarified[2].
Upon initiating a go-around, air traffic control ensues a dialogue with the crew to ascertain their intentions. The crew essentially has three options: 'try again, divert to an alternate airport, or hold while they decide what to do.'
'Based on that, we guide them according to their request. Often, they land without problems on the second attempt,' they concluded[2].
Spanish air traffic control acknowledged several wind shear events on the day. Thankfully, no severe incidents or injuries were reported.
Ryanair has yet to comment on the matter.
Understanding Wind Shear: Causes and Impact
Wind shears are significant aviation challenges arising from changes in wind speed and direction over a short distance. Frequent causes include:
- Frontal Activity: Highly humid air masses colliding with dry air masses can trigger wind shears[1].
- Thunderstorms: The rapid growth of thunderstorms creates a mix of updrafts and downdrafts, leading to wind sheer[1].
- Temperature Inversions: A warmer layer overcooler air generates wind shear[1].
- Surface Obstructions: Buildings, hills, or other landscape features can disrupt airflow, causing wind shear near the ground[1].
- Jet Streams: While not typically low-altitude wind shears, jet streams create high-altitude wind shears and turbulence like Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)[4][5].
Wind shear can cause significant disruptions during aircraft landings, leading to shifts in airspeed or altitude that could potentially result in loss of lift or control, necessitating immediate corrective action[1].
- The 'wind shear-related glitch' during the Ryanair flight's aborted landing in Tenerife South Airport was a result of a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, as explained by air traffic controllers.
- General-news outlets reported numerous go-arounds at airports across the Canary Islands due to adverse weather conditions, including strong tailwinds, contradicting runway conditions, and wind shears, similar to the incident at Tenerife South.
- In sports news, discussions arose about the impacts of wind shear in various outdoor sports, such as golf and tennis, where players often have to navigate unexpected gusts during competitions.
- Thenews about the aborted flight in Tenerife and the multiple go-arounds in the Canary Islands served as a reminder for drivers to be extra cautious during adverse weather conditions, as wind shear could also potentially cause car-accidents on the roads.
- Amidst the general-news about the flight's aborted landing, there were also reports of weather improvements across the Canary Islands, with forecasts predicting a significant drop in winds and an increase in clear, sunny weather, offering better conditions for both flights and outdoor sports.
