Powerful storm wreaks havoc across western Europe

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Germany and the Netherlands woke up to scenes of devastation Friday after a powerful storm flattened buildings, disrupted travel and killed at least eight people.

Six people died in Germany, including two firefighters killed by falling trees and debris. A 68-year-old van driver was killed when his vehicle was blown onto the other side of the street, police said.

In Cologne, a baby was born in a car after road closures made it impossible for the mother to reach hospital, the city's fire service said.

Germany's DWD national weather service said the storm was "one of the strongest" since another powerful weather system, storm Kyrill, hit the country 11 years ago.

Read more: Link to source

---

Take a look at this plane attempting to land in Dusseldorf:

[CherokeeDem]

1. Oh my goodness....

I suspect there was a lot of applause in the cockpits of those planes waiting on the taxiways when that plane landed safely. That was tough... wow.

[brooklynite]

5. You don't usually applaud much when you're catatonic...

[CherokeeDem]

14. That's true!!

If I had been on that plane, I would have been catatonic!

Regardless, that pilot deserves praise for simply hanging on! Amazing.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Yikes, that landing!

Get out the airsick bags. He made it, but I'd have been more inclined to go around and head for my alternate (assuming enough fuel).

[BigmanPigman]

3. Give that pilot a raise!

Why was the airport even open?

[raven mad]

4. One fantastic pilot. I'd love to know his/her name to laud it!

[Sailor65x1]

6. Don't forget the airplane!

That's a Dash-8. For all its ugliness and sometimes smelliness it's a terrific performer. And it has unusually beefy main landing gear, which allows pilots to get away side-loading them like this.

Considering the winds, the pilot may not have had fuel reserve enough for an alternate.

[pangaia]

9. Can the mains pivot on the DASH-8? I couldn't see...

[Sailor65x1]

10. No they can't

and that's why it's such a remarkable design. In this instance they were heavily side-loaded but that plane takes it like a champ.

[pangaia]

11. Pretty impressive...

[paleotn]

16. Impressive.

Damn good pilot as well.

[MineralMan]

7. Uff da! I'm glad I wasn't on that plane, for sure!

The worst landing I've ever had was in Cedar Rapids, IA. There was a nasty thunderstorm and heavy crosswinds as we made the final approach. Just as the wheels were about to touch down, a gust tipped the plane to the left. I saw sparks fly as the wingtip dragged on the ground for a second or two, and then the plane leveled off and we landed safely.

I was not amused by that landing. Not one bit. I can't remember what model jet we were flying, though.

[The_jackalope]

8. I'd have gone full power when the wheels were still 20 feet in the air.

Fuck that noise!

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. As you can see, we have aborted our landing at Dusseldorf. Due to the weather we will be diverting to out alternate airport in Majorca. The flight attendants will be coming though the cabin shortly with clean underwear. Thank you for flying Holy Shit Airlines."

[EarthFirst]

12. That pilot deserves some sort of recognition...

Wow!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. Nasty crosswinds.

I am also surprised the airport was open at that point.

[YOHABLO]

15. Shouldn't this post have a different title? Like ''Miraculous Landing in Powerful wind storm"?