Video shows British Airways Flight BA 492 In Extreme Wind
On February 25th, passengers on the British Airways flight BA 492 experienced very extreme winds. Pilots were attempting a landing in Gibraltar, however strong winds have prevented them from doing so. Dangerous weather conditions forced the flight crew to divert the aircraft to Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport. The flight took off at 8:38 AM from London Heathrow International Airport. It was scheduled to land in Gibraltar International Airport.
Pilot changed her mind
However, British Airways gate agents told the passengers that they will probably be landing in Malaga due to the severe winds affecting flights in the British Overseas Territory. Nevertheless, the pilot had other thoughts. A passenger, who gave an interview to a local news channel in Gibraltar, said: “And then she changed her mind. She was like no, we’re going to land in Gibraltar. As it (the aircraft) started to descend, it was like a gust of wind and it sort of tipped the plane over to the right. From then on she just lost control and the aircraft started to sway from side to side. She (the pilot) regained control to ascend again because obviously, we could not land.” The dramatic footage perfectly showcases that, especially the way the aircraft rocked back and forth to the left and right.
British Airways later stated that “Due to strong winds in the Gibraltar area, our pilots decided to land in Malaga as a precaution.” The airline also noted that “at no point was there a risk to safety.” Following the incident, British Airways re-routed the subsequent flight from Gibraltar to Heathrow International Airport. Flight BA 493 took off from Malaga, rather than Gibraltar. Whatever it might be, we are glad nobody was hurt. Heavy wind conditions are nothing new and are sort of a daily occurrence in the aviation industry. On the other hand, the conditions on Flight BA 492 were definitely not even close to being ordinary. Source
